Scholars preserve mangrove forests

BOGOR: The Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB), the University of Indonesia and Indonesia Christian University have taken the initiative to preserve the mangrove forests in Muara Angke Kapuk, West Jakarta.

"The Jakarta administration has neglected the forest despite its importance to prevent seawater intrusion," IPB expert Hadi S. Alikodra said on Wednesday.

Alikodra is the supervisor of the project.

He added that only 23 hectares of the forest is left from 500 hectares due to uncontrolled development in the area.

"We're looking for sponsors to donate seedlings, because to reforest the area we need at least 10,000 seedlings," he said. -- JP