T

housands of hectares (ha) of mangrove forest in northern coastal areas have been seriously damaged due to fish farms, residences, industries, tourism and illegal logging, an official has said.

Data at the Central Java Forestry Office showed of the total area of 35,338 ha of mangrove swamps, 61 percent were severely damaged and 33 percent slightly damaged.

Office head Sri Puryono Karto Soedarma said mangrove damage was attributed to conversion into fish farms, residence, industry and tourism development that was not based on conservation, including illegal logging.

He expressed his full support for the International Mangrove Jamboree, which was held in Mangunharjo subdistrict in Tugu district, Semarang on Aug. 1 and 2, in which 350 participants planted around 60,000 mangrove seedlings around fish farms in the area.

"I participated in the jamboree to gain experience on how to cultivate mangrove," said Amri Kumandara from the fishery school of Semarang's Diponegoro University.

A participant from Germany, Sebastian, who is affiliated with the Indonesia International Work Camp supported planting mangroves.

"The mangrove can save the coast from abrasion. That's why I joined the event."

His colleague, Marius, agreed.

"The organization that I am affiliated with asked me to be involved in the program. I'm very happy to work with many people to save the coast."

The participants came from various circles, such as local and foreign activists, students from state and private universities, high school students, civil servants and employees from the private sector.

The jamboree was held jointly by the Coastal Community and Environment Empowerment Society (Lepaas), Indonesia International Work Camp, Central Java PKBI and Diponegoro University.

Central Java provincial secretary Hadi Prabowo, who inaugurated the jamboree, said mangroves could serve as a buffer against tides, while from the biological aspects, mangrove swamps could act as spawning grounds for shrimps, fish and crabs.

"That's why mangrove swamps must be preserved."

Indonesia is home to 89 mangrove species, or the largest number of mangrove species in the world, found along its coast, such as the bakau, api-api, pedada, tanjang, nyirih, tenger and buta-buta.

Indonesia has the largest mangrove forests, in terms of size, which are rich in bio-diversity, spanning 3.2 million hectares.

However, more than 50 percent are damaged. Indonesia dominates 75 percent of mangrove forests in Asia and 37 percent on the global level.

The mangroves are mostly found along the coasts of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua.

Sri Puryono said his office would set up mangrove banks in Semarang, Pemalang, Batang and Rembang.

" Mangrove preservation is essential to prevent coastal abrasion and erosion." Data at the Central Java Environmental Agency showed 112.03 kilometers (km), or 3,240.24 ha of the 486.03 km of coastline in the north coast has been damaged by abrasion, while 115.35 km, or 663.40 ha by coastal accretion. The extent of mangrove damage accounted for 2,642.97 ha.

Agency head Djoko Strisno said coastal abrasion could be overcome by building wave barriers and coastal belts and mangrove reforestation.

International Mangrove Jamboree organizing committee head Abdul Azis said the event was held given the alarming rate of mangrove damage, especially along the coast of Semarang.