Regency plants breadfruit saplings to support coastal conservation drive

The Thousand Islands Regency administration has planted hundreds of breadfruit saplings (Artocarpus altilis), a plant native to the area, as part of the Jaga Jakarta campaign in coastal areas.

“This is the regency’s commitment to protecting biodiversity in coastal areas and safeguarding the environment,” Thousand Islands Regent Muhammad Fadjar Churniawan said in Jakarta on Monday.

He said a symbolic planting was held on Tidung Kecil Island, in Tidung Island Urban Village, South Thousand Islands District, on Sunday (11 October) as part of the coastal strand of the Jaga Jakarta campaign.

Breadfruit is an alternative food source well suited to cultivation in the Thousand Islands Regency, he said, and is widely known among visiting tourists.

Breadfruit saplings have been distributed to each urban village for planting, given the crop’s strong potential in the area.

In addition to planting breadfruit, the administration planted mangrove saplings supplied by the Jakarta Maritime Affairs, Agriculture and Food Security Agency’s Marine Cultivation and Conservation Centre. It also harvested 161kg of maize and 5kg of aubergines.

“We will distribute 500 mangrove saplings to each urban village for planting,” he said.

Meanwhile, acting head of the Thousand Islands Maritime Affairs, Agriculture and Food Security Sub-agency Andi Dala Jemma said breadfruit was a local food crop that could withstand the coastal climate and strong winds and required little maintenance. It was well suited to supporting food security, greening and the local economy, he said.

The activity was intended to support island food security and greening programmes, as well as launch the ‘One House, One Breadfruit Tree’ movement in the Thousand Islands.

“This is a symbol of the Thousand Islands Regency’s commitment to conserving productive plants,” he said.