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Jakarta Post

Menjangan conservation project kicks off

A group claiming it was concerned about the degraded environmental condition of Menjangan Island in Buleleng launched a community-based conservation project Friday

Desy Nurhayati (The Jakarta Post)
Buleleng
Sat, May 7, 2011 Published on May. 7, 2011 Published on 2011-05-07T08:08:08+07:00

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group claiming it was concerned about the degraded environmental condition of Menjangan Island in Buleleng launched a community-based conservation project Friday.

The Sahabat Menjangan (Friends of Menjangan) project was established in the wake of continuing threats to the environment in the small island located off the northwest tip of Bali.

“Friends of Menjangan is a group of volunteers who care about Menjangan, those who are willing to contribute energy and money to work together in protecting this island from looming threats,” David Makesh, one of the project founders and a member of the group’s board of directors, said.

“As a tourist destination, Menjangan should be protected to ensure environmental sustainability,” David added.

Menjangan Island is one of the top diving and snorkeling destinations in Bali. The 150-hectare island faces a growing garbage problem as well as illegal and destructive fishing practices that destroy coral reefs.

A recent survey by US-based Biosphere Foundation said much of the coral in Menjangan waters had been damaged by human activity, mainly anchoring and destructive fishing, foundation researcher Orla Doherty said, adding that the survey also aimed to collect data on the fish, coral and other marine species population.

Addressing 120 junior and senior high students at the event, Orla said there were several things they could do to contribute to conservation efforts in Menjangan Island.

“First, do not leave any plastic garbage on the island. All plastic garbage should be brought back,” she told local students from the surrounding districts of Gerokgak, Pekutatan and Pemuteran.

“It is alright to tell divers that it is wrong to step on the coral, and to tell boat drivers not to use anchors. Please use buoys.”

Tedi Sutedi, the head of the West Bali National Parks Agency, which oversees Menjangan Island, agreed that garbage and destructive fishing were two major problems facing the island.

“The tourism industry here has contributed a lot to the livelihoods of local people. But they are also feeling the impact of a degraded environment on their revenues,” he said.

“If we lose our natural beauty, we lose the tourists as well.”

Friends of Menjangan was launched in observance of Earth Day, which fell on April 22. The event will be followed by a beach and underwater clean up on Saturday involving hundreds of students and volunteers.

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