The approach of giving the licenses for pond farmers must not be merely based on regional revenue, but also on the safety of the local people in the futureBandarlampung, Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Around 96 percent of mangrove forest areas in Lampung Province have gone, according to data obtained from the latest satellite monitoring by Lampung`s Integrated Mangrove Forest Preservation Working Group.
"There are now only 3,108 hectares remaining, out of the (mangrove) area potentials covering 93,938.84 hectares. Almost all of them were cut for ponds and tourism resorts," Herza Yulianto of the working group, said here, Friday.
The data from the satellite monitoring showed that 96 percent of the total mangrove forest areas have gone and been converted into shrimp and fish ponds as well as tourist resorts.
The group strongly urged the Lampung governor to order district heads and mayors who territories covering coastal areas to preserve the mangrove forests.
The working group also invited the private sector to help rehabilitate mangrove areas which have been seriously degraded and could threaten the local environment.
"We will communicate with the private sector, especially pond farmers, to build a green belt in the form of a mangrove forest around their ponds, and at the same time intensify the supervision," he said.
The working group would also ask the Lampung agrarian office to make the mangrove-to-pond conversion license process stricter than now.
"The approach of giving the licenses for pond farmers must not be merely based on regional revenue, but also on the safety of the local people in the future," he said.
The Lampung Integrated Mangrove Forest Preservation Working Group is a forum of multi-stakeholders tasked to help the governor preserve the mangrove forests.
Established in 2008 by the Lampung governor, the working group consists of various elements including the local government, NGOs, and civil society.
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Editor: AA Ariwibowo
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