After the launch, all rehabilitation, conservation, maintenance, and supervision should be expedited in order that the rehabilitation of 600-620 thousand (hectares of mangroves) by 2024 can be achieved.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has expressed the hope that the launch of Indonesia's 2021 National Mangrove Map will expedite mangrove rehabilitation and conservation, thereby help achieve the government’s target quickly.

“After the launch, all rehabilitation, conservation, maintenance, and supervision should be expedited in order that the rehabilitation of 600-620 thousand (hectares of mangroves) by 2024 can be achieved, align with the President’s directives often conveyed at international events,” Pandjaitan said.

Such efforts should be made in pursuit of the sustainable management of the mangrove ecosystem, he pointed out during the 2021 National Mangrove Map launch at the Angke Kapuk Natural Tourist Park in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Indonesia has continued to make real efforts pertaining to mangrove rehabilitation, according to Pandjaitan adding that it is a part of the government’s policies on climate change aimed at ensuring the future of the next generation.

Related news: BRGM provides mangrove seedlings to help Papuan residents boost income

At the same event, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya said that mangrove rehabilitation is one of the very important national programs and in line with the directives of President Joko Widodo.

She said that the government will continue to accelerate achieving the target of mangrove rehabilitation by 2024 since the ministry has successfully transformed fishponds into mangrove ecosystems again.

“The current global issue and needs are getting clearer that there are not many mangroves in other countries, while we are among the largest, quite extensive, in mangrove ecosystem,” she remarked.

According to the 2021 National Mangrove Map, the current area under mangroves in Indonesia has reached 3,364,080 hectares, with mangroves of different conditions.

The figure has shown a significant increase of 53,873 hectares as compared to 3,311,207 hectares in 2013-2019.

Related news: Indonesia targets rehabilitating 34,000 ha mangrove areas this year

Translator: Prisca Violetta, Juwita Trisna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2021