Sad! Indonesia Lost 40 Percent of Mangroves over the Last Three Decades

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) said that based on data, over the past 30 years, Indonesia has lost about 40 percent of mangroves.

In fact, the mangrove ecosystem has an important role as a coastal protector, habitat for various biota, supporting fisheries productivity and people's livelihoods, and storing carbon emissions that trigger climate change.

This was revealed after the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KP) Sakti Wahyu Trenggono attended the World Mangrove Day event in Denpasar, Bali, Sunday, July 26.

"Based on data, in the last three decades, Indonesia has lost about 40 percent of mangroves with a rate of damage of around 52,000 hectares per year and about 19.26 percent of mangroves are in critical condition," said Trenggono as quoted from a written statement, Monday, July 27.

Therefore, synergy is needed from all parties so that mangrove rehabilitation programs are not only massively carried out, but also have a real impact on the health of marine and coastal ecosystems.

The success of mangrove restoration, according to Trenggono, depends on the collaboration of all stakeholders through integrated policies, the use of science, community empowerment, and strengthening funding, supervision, and public education.

"Mangrove rehabilitation should not stop at planting activities alone, but must be based on ecological suitability, so that the function of the ecosystem really recovers," he said.

In the KKP itself, the expansion of marine conservation areas which include mangrove areas, seagrass meadows and coral reefs is a priority program with a target area of 97.5 million hectares by 2045.

The expansion of the marine conservation area is referred to as an effort to maintain the productivity of national capture fisheries in the future.

In addition, the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries has also combined mangrove restoration activities with the development of fisheries cultivation areas in the revitalization program for unproductive ponds on the North Coast (Pantura) of Java in the first phase of 14,000 hectares.

The program also aims to improve the coastal ecosystem, absorption of labor, and increase fish production for food security.

Meanwhile, at the peak celebration of World Mangrove Day held by the Ministry of Environment (LH), mangrove tree planting was carried out in the Batu Lumbang Eco-Tourism area, Denpasar.

On this occasion, Trenggono also received input from local governments regarding mangrove rehabilitation programs via teleconference.