Govt protects mangrove forests

Govt protects mangrove forests

SEMARANG: The government is committed to continue protecting
mangrove forests, which have suffered widespread damage due to
reckless tree felling along the country's seashores, an official
announced on Monday.

"The protection of existing mangrove forests is ensured
through the issuance of regional regulations on the importance of
replanting the damaged woodland," said Irfandi Idris, director of
seashore development at the Central Java marines and fishery
office.

Speaking at a get-together on mangrove reforestation along
Java's northern coastline, Irfandi said that, out of the original
total of 4.25 million hectares of mangrove forests in Indonesia,
only about 25 percent remains.

The condition of mangrove forests is so poor that it needs
proper handling to maintain them, he said.

Irfandi said that in Java alone, only five to 10 percent of
the island's indigenous mangrove forest still exist.
Reforestation, therefore, was urgently needed.

The issuance of regional regulations on the protection of
mangrove forests show the regional government's attention to the
environment in the current regional autonomy era, he said.

He explained that reforestation of mangrove forests along the
northern coastline of Java, from Banten, Bekasi, Kerawang,
Pekalongan, Rembang to Banyuwangi, had begun this year. --JP