Joe Biden Predicts Jakarta Sinking In 10 Years, Can Mangroves Be Prevented?

JAKARTA - The issue of the sinking of Jakarta has been circulating for a long time. But slowly but surely the great disaster seemed to be approaching. Most recently, the President of the United States (US), Joe Biden, also predicted that Jakarta would be in danger of sinking in 10 years. So how to prevent it?

In his speech, Biden said that one of the impacts of climate change is sea level rise. He projects that if sea levels rise by 2.5 feet or 7.6 cm, millions of people in the world will have to flee their homes.

If the projection is correct, then Indonesia will have to pay a heavy price by immediately moving the capital city of Jakarta. Because, Jakarta is the capital city that is most at risk of sinking in the next 20 years.

"What happens in Indonesia if the projections are correct that, in the next 10 years, they may have to move the capital because they will be underwater? That's important. It's a strategic question as well as an environmental question," Biden said in a speech at the Director's Office. US National Intelligence, last July 27.

Joe Biden's speech also provoked reactions from various parties. One of them was the reaction of the Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Riza Patria. Riza chose not to agree with Joe Biden. According to him, the DKI Jakarta government has made every effort to anticipate land subsidence. This step is believed to prevent Jakarta from sinking. Even if it will sink, it will not be like the predictions made by Joe Biden, namely sinking in the next 10 years.

"Indeed, in Jakarta the land is low, so in Jakarta there is a subsidence of land every year. However, it does not mean that Jakarta has been sinking for 10 years. The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government is still trying to prevent Jakarta from sinking, including the extraction of ground water, improved PAM Jaya pipelines so that the need for clean water is increased. all from PAM," said Riza Patria.

However, Geology expert from Padjadjaran University (Unpad), Dicky Muslim, said that Joe Biden's statement was correct and should not be taken lightly. Moreover, the analysis presented by Joe Biden has certainly gone through a study. This means that Joe Biden did not carelessly deliver that statement.

In line with that, Dicky explained the fact that a number of coastal areas on the north coast had experienced a faster land subsidence based on geological studies. One of them is the result of groundwater extraction.

"Of course the American president will ask questions in preparing his speech. He doesn't just focus on Jakarta in his speech, but on global issues, global warming. Jakarta is an example because there is information to him about Jakarta." said Dicky quoted by Okezone.

"In my terms in class, suicide is slowly. The water is taken slowly and the community and the government don't seem to care (with the condition of land subsidence)," Dicky firmly assured.

If analyzed, the condition of land subsidence is not only one of the causes of the projection of Jakarta sinking. Other reasons, especially the influence of climate change variables, are the basic reasons why biden's projections are correct. This was agreed by an Environmental Observer who is also the Director of the Life Sports Institute (LOH), Yani Sagaroa.

Through his glasses, Yani explains in outline why Joe Biden's projection is absolute and certain to happen. The projection of Jakarta sinking should be seen from all variables. Especially because Indonesia itself is one of the largest emitters in the world.

This condition is further exacerbated by the variable rate of forest destruction in Indonesia which continues like no pause. Forests that always provide a lot of livelihood to humans are replaced by concrete jungles like what happened in Jakarta. Meanwhile, the condition in Jakarta itself is getting worse with Green Open Space (RTH) which does not meet the standards—if you don't want to say a little.

As a result, the air temperature increases every time. In fact, in the past two years, the air temperature had reached above 42 degrees on certain days in various regions in Indonesia. It will also rise when it enters the dry season which according to records can reach 46 degrees.

The hot air temperature is the main reason for the sea level (surface) to increase due to melting ice in the North and South Poles. Because of this, all small islands or cities on the coast are in danger of sinking.

“The threat – if it is in the context of the impact of climate change – is not only Jakarta. In several studies conducted by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) for the Indonesian environment, on average, Indonesia has lost three small islands per year in the last 10 years. Even in the future, Indonesia's tendency to lose small islands will increase. That's because the sea level has increased, not to mention the addition of other climate change variables, such as typhoons, strong winds, and storms," said Yani Sagaroa when contacted by VOI, August 2.

"Because now we see that the climate disaster is an emergency situation, so the processes for handling it must also include emergency measures, which are almost equivalent to the actual case of the current COVID-19 pandemic. So that the pattern of handling mitigation and adaptation must also be a priority at this time. Because it's part of the disaster, because the regulations that exist today. Disasters are divided into two sectors," Yani explained.

The sinking of small islands and coasts is closely related to the loss or lack of mangrove forests. In fact, one of the ecological functions of mangrove forests is to maintain the stability of coastal areas. Moreover, mangroves become a kind of green belt or life belt that secures two ecosystems: terrestrial ecosystems and coastal ecosystems.

“Actually, from natural law, we must understand that one of the efforts to embed coastal ecosystems is to rebuild the mangrove forest. Because there are schemes such as reclamation developed by other parties, which are not effective,” said Yani.

Yani explained that mangroves are effective in preventing the sinking of an island. “Therefore, this mangrove is really effective. Take for example every coastal area if there is a disaster if there are mangroves, then the area will not be affected by large-scale damage."

Efforts to rebuild mangrove forests are actually not new. For example, several programs from Sudicindo, Bappenas, ICCTF, and the support capacity of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in recent years. The agency has developed the conservation of mangrove forests in the Teluk Saleh and Gili Balu areas, Sumbawa Besar, NTB.

Mangrove forests are not a single solution, but their effectiveness has been proven. When other regions have started the movement to build mangrove forests, Yani Sagaroa believes that Jakarta, which should be a representation of Indonesia, can do the same thing. With a note, the development of mangrove forests is carried out more massively, seriously, and stimulates environmentally friendly development. After that, residents of the capital city of Jakarta can feel the benefits of mangrove services to prevent erosion and seawater intrusion. In fact, preventing Jakarta from sinking.

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