Mangrove to shield Aceh coastal towns

Mangrove to shield Aceh coastal towns

Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The government's master plan for the redevelopment of Aceh calls
for planting mangrove trees along devastated coastal towns such
as Banda Aceh, Meulaboh and Calang, and constructing public
housing and office buildings far inland.

The plan was unveiled by National Development Planning Board
chairwoman Sri Mulyani Indrawati following a limited Cabinet
meeting on Aceh led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the
State Palace on Friday.

Sri noted that in the master plan, the government would divide
each coastal town affected by the tsunami into three zones: the
totally devastated zone, the less devastated zone with building
structures still intact, and the least devastated zone.

For the first zone, the government plans to reforest the areas
with mangrove trees.

Aceh's original mangrove forests disappeared long ago. If
necessary, the government will develop dams in these zones as
well, Sri said.

The government plans to develop the second zones with
agricultural businesses and fisheries, city gardens and limited
housing complexes.

In addition, the government will rebuild roads linking the
east and west coasts of the province, as well as roads running
north and south.

The master plan is subject to revision and should be finalized
within a month.

"It is the government's responsibility to draft this master
plan. Should any individual or private entity want to make
another master plan, they can consult with the government," Sri
said.

She did not identify by name any individuals or private
entities, but a recent report said the military-linked Artha
Graha Group, in cooperation with a local administration, planned
to redevelop Meulaboh on the west coast of Aceh.

The government, Sri said, was inviting the public to
participate in drafting redevelopment plans.

A number of Acehnese leaders and community figures also
attended Friday's limited Cabinet meeting on Aceh. They included
acting governor Azwar Abubakar, Muslim Ibrahim of the Ulema
Consultative Council, ulema Daud Zamzani, Syah Kuala University
Rector Abdi Awahab, councillor Sayid Fuad Zakariah and academic
D. Djunaid.