Jakarta, April 15 (Antara) - Mangroves trees are increasingly attracting people given their important functions in providing sanctuary to marine ecosystem, holding sediments, and serving as habitats for a variety of fishes, crabs, shrimps, and mollusk species.
Moreover, mangroves offer increased economic benefits given the diversity of lives inhabiting them and their proximity to other tourist attractions such as coral reefs and sandy beaches.
Now many regions across the country have started to intensively preserve mangroves trees while trying to tap its commercial benefits, such as developing tourism and harvesting their fruits to produce different kinds of cakes that could earn economic benefits.
Hence, many regions across the country, such as North Penajam Paser District of East Kalimantan and other provinces such as West Kalimantan, Gorontalo, Southeast Sulawesi, and East Java, are developing mangrove trees and preserving them.
In order to promote the development of mangrove forests, North Penjam Pasar District of East Kalimantan holds a four-day mangrove festival from April 13 to 16, 2017.
"I highly appreciate the holding of the festival because it will trigger the development of a mangrove preservation movement in this region," North Penajam Paser District Head Yusran Aspar said at the festival location in Penjama on Saturday (April 15).
Through the festival, the local government is resolved to turn Penajam Paser District into a region worth living, for investing, and for holidaying. "As a region which was established 15 years ago, North Penajam Paser continues to carry out its development and economy,¿ the district head stated.
Aspar explained that the mangrove festival is not only intended to encourage people to preserve the ecosystem by planting mangrove trees but also to provide understanding to the local people on their benefits which provide high economic values.
"Through this festival, we are echoing mangrove planting activities which have important roles in maintaining the ecosystem balance, particularly in the coastal areas," Chief festival organizer Achmad Fitriady said. The local government has also organized a social activity to plant 1 thousand mangrove trees.
As regions tap the economic potential of mangroves by developing a tourism destination around the mangrove forests, Gorontalo province has started to process mangrove fruits to develop cakes that could be sold for economic benefits.
An instance for this activity is carried out by inmates of the Pohuwato correctional institute. While serving their sentence term, inmates could involve in positive activities.
Pohuwato Penitentiary Head Rusdedy stated that inmates are guided to make mangrove 'dodol' cake (a kind of taffy cake). This product turns out to have won many consumers. Even last week, some mangrove dodol cake products have been taken to Jakarta to be promoted in an exhibition.
The exhibition was held at the Ministry of Industry. The mangrove dodol product of Pohuwato penitentiary inmates were sold at Rp25 thousand per pack. "Apart from dodol, we also introduced mangrove fruit-based steak products which we sold at Rp25 thousand a piece and another kind of case sold at Rp2 thousand a piece, Rusdedy noted.
In the meantime, the Tasik Malaya village of Kubu Raya District in West Kalimantan is developing what it calls "Pantai Panorama Indah" or beautiful panorama beach to attract tourists.
Tasik Malaya Village head Samiril remarked that the local government is resolved to build the Pantai Panorama Indah, which has eco-tourism potential to develop into a well-known tourist destination.
The areas host a number of species such as Bekantan monkey (Nasalis Larvatus), dolphins (Orcaella brevirostris), turtles, and Enggang Gading birds (Buceros/rhinoplax vigil).
In the meantime, Southeast Sulawesi is also tapping its mangrove potential to attract tourists. The regional government of the provincial capital Kendari is intensively developing at least three mangrove tracking ecotourism centers.
Kendari Mayor Asrun noted that his side involved the local people in developing the mangrove tracking ecotourism so that they will have a sense of belonging and also take part in maintaining them.
The local government have set three areas for the mangrove tracking ecotourism, namely the Bungkutoko Mangrove Tracking, Lahundape Mangrove Tracking, and Purirano Mangrove Tracking areas area, Asrun revealed.
"The mangrove areas are of one Kendari's mainstay ecotourism destinations. They are still new but many tourists have been visiting them," the mayor pointed out.
In East Java, the Surabaya Muhammadiyah University (UMS) have involved secondary schools students to promote mangrove preservation. For this purpose, the UMS launched a festival called "Mangrove Arts and Sciences Festival" (MAF) 2017 in conjunction with its 36th anniversary.
UMS Rector Sukadiono stated that the MAF 2017 is held in conjunction with the university¿s anniversary celebration as an expression of its love for the environment.
"The festival is aimed at introducing mangrove conservation areas to secondary school students so that they would appreciate the environment," Rector Sukadiono remarked. About 200 students coming from across East Java province took part in the festival.
Head of Surabaya City's Agriculture and Food Resilience Service, Yustamaji, appreciated the UMS for introducing the mangrove areas to students in line with the policies of the city government's commitment to develop mangroves, particularly in the eastern coastal areas of East Java.***4***(A014/INE)EDITED BY INE(T.A014/A/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 15-04-2017 17:56: |
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