Mangroves endangered

Mangroves endangered

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Around 71,000 hectares of mangroves
along the province's coasts are in critical condition due to
illegal logging, says a local officer.

"Most of the mangroves have been illegally cut down by the
local fisherman community and badly affected by sea abrasion,"
head of the local forestry office Riwung Toemon said here
Thursday.

If the coastal areas are not reforested, the marine ecosystem
will be affected, he said as quoted by Antara.

He said he has proposed a reforestation program for the
coastal areas but there has been no response from the central
government.

He said around Rp 210 million (US$95,000) was needed to
regreen the almost denuded coasts, adding that his office would
launch an information campaign for the local community on the
need to preserve the mangroves.(rms)