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)