75 Percent of Mangrove Forests Damaged east Kalimantan, Indonesia

SAMARINDA, Damage to mangrove forests in East Kalimantan (Kaltim) has now reached 75 percent or 685,277 hectares (Ha). "This condition is very alarming and should soon get the handling of various stakeholders," said Vice Chairman of Commission III DPRD Kaltim HM Darlis Pattalongi in Samarinda, on Sunday.

He said that the mangrove forest area reached 883,379 ha in East Kalimantan. From the area, a number of 6855.277 hectares were damaged, with details of 329,579 ha and 328,695 ha were severely damaged were damaged. While mangrove good condition only about 225,105 ha, or there is only 25.48 percent which is still maintained its sustainability, while almost 75 percent damaged, mostly due to human activities.

Especially in the Mahakam Delta mangroves are estimated area of ​​150,000 ha of the total area of mangrove forests in East Kalimantan. Mangrove forest ecosystem in the Mahakam Delta is known as one of the important ecosystem in a single cycle of life for humans and the environment.

Damage or degradation of mangroves that occur in the Mahakam Delta of them due to road building and pipeline by oil companies for the manufacture of shrimp farming and timber exploitation for various purposes.

This activity brings changes that have broad impact on the future of the Mahakam Delta region. "Among the survival of society, which depends on the Mahakam Delta, either directly or indirectly," he said.

"The mangrove forests in East Kalimantan until now badly damaged condition, to the local government through relevant intansi asked to give more attention to the damage is not widespread," he said.(republika, 10 April 2011)