Pangkalpinang (ANTARA) - The provincial government of Bangka Belitung Islands (Babel) has planted thousands of mangrove seedlings to restore 4,700 hectares of mangrove forests damaged by tin mining and illegal land conversion.

“Thank God, the mangrove planting on 4,700 hectares has been quite successful,” head of the province’s Environment and Forestry Agency (DLHK), Bambang Trisula, said while attending the planting of 10 thousand mangroves by PLN at Penyak Beach on Friday.

The Bangka Belitung Islands government is collaborating with various agencies and community groups to carry out mangrove plantings on the 4,700 hectares of land spread across seven districts and cities, he informed.

“Today, we are planting 10 thousand mangrove seedlings on Penyak Beach in Bangka Tengah district, initiated by PLN in the Bangka Belitung Islands Region to protect wetlands for the future of our children and grandchildren,” he said.

He added that there is potential to plant mangroves on 7,500 hectares of land, spread across seven districts and cities, in the Bangka Belitung Islands.

Of the total, 2,100 hectares is in Belitung district, 1,700 hectares in Belitung Timur district, 1,100 hectares in Bangka Selatan district, 416 hectares in Bangka Tengah district, 1,200 hectares in Bangka Barat district, 884 hectares in Bangka district, and 100 hectares in Pangkalpinang city.

“This mangrove planting program began in 2018, and thank God, the planted mangrove seedlings are already thriving,” he said.

According to Trisula, the mangrove planting area is not only a space for environmental conservation but also a natural tourist attraction utilized by local community groups.

“In managing and maintaining this mangrove forest, we involve farmer groups and community groups to ensure it is protected from various illegal activities that damage its sustainability,” he said.

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