Invite To Take Care Of 3.44 Million Ha Mangrove Lands, KLHK Reminds To Take Advantage Of Land Without Transfer Of Function

Residents carry mangrove seeds to be planted in the coastal waters of Harapan Island, Thousand Islands, DKI Jakarta, May 2021. (Between-Aditya P)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) said that stakeholders need cooperation to protect Indonesian mangroves, which currently covers an area of 3.44 million hectares (ha), one of which is by utilizing land without changing its function.

"We are building mangrove governance, which means we also want all relevant parties to play a role according to their capacity, with the task of the function of authority," said Director of Land and Mangrove Rehabilitation (RPDM) KLHK Inge Retnowati in an online discussion followed from Jakarta, Tuesday.

He emphasized that the Ministry of Environment and Forestry cannot work alone and cooperate with other ministries/agencies to ensure that the conservation task of mangrove areas goes well. Apart from the government, it also takes the role of the community considering that the biggest threat to mangrove areas is land conversion, one of which is for ponds.

According to National Mangrove Map data in 2023, there are 3.44 million ha mangrove areas in Indonesia or 23 percent of the world's total mangroves which reach 14.8 million hectares.

On the same occasion, Professor of IPB University Prof. Hadi Sukadi Alikodra said the mangrove area was included in a state of urgency not only because the area was narrow but also there was a threat of environmental pollution.

In fact, there is the potential for mangrove utilization without changing its function, including in the fisheries sector. He gave an example of how a maintained mangrove area can become a source of income for the fisheries sector such as fish and crabs.

"Mangrove forest is closely related to the role and function of biology, life rather than species, especially shrimp, milkfish, crabs," he said.

The use of mangrove areas for fisheries without changing their own functions must have an analysis of risks, both ecological, economic, and social.

"The intention of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry is of course the knowledge of products rather than fisheries, but also how to secure mangroves," he said.