"MMC 2011 which will take place from April to June 2011, is intended as a campaign to save the mangrove ecosystem, especially in the northern coast of Central Java province that has many advantages and role for nature preservation as well as for people`s economy," chairperson of KeSEMat Fuad Ashari said here on Tuesday.
KeSEMat is a study group on Mangrove ecosystem conservation whose members are students of the Fisheries and Marine Faculty of Diponegoro University, Semarang.
According to Fuad, mangrove forests which comprise many coastal plants play a role not only to prevent abrasion and preserve the coastal ecosystem but also provide economic benefit such as serving as a spawning and feeding ground for many marine species that have economic value.
Mangrove forests also play a significant role in fighting global warming as it could not only produce oxygen but also trap more carbon dioxide, Fuad said.
According to data from Marine and Fisheries office of Semarang, of 36.51 hectares of mangrove forests in Semarang, 11 hectares had vanished or been devastated, Fuad said, adding that, therefore it inspired KeSEMat to carry out the fund raising program on Mangrove conservation.
The charity program would be carried out in three stages. the first one is a campaign on mangrove restoration in which some counseling on mangrove rescue campaign would be conducted in some universities in Semarang, Central Java.
Some consultants on mangrove ecosystem would share their views to students to motivate them as young generation to pay more attention to the preservation of mangrove forests, Fuad said.
The next stage of the MMC 2011 is the charity music concert in some universities in Semarang that would stage a music band called KeSEMaTUSTIK, as the guest star, whose songs concern mangroves restoration.
The last stage of MMC 2011 would be a fund raising activity. The funds obtained from this program would be used for some conservation, research, study, campaign, and documentation of the mangrove ecosystem on northern coast of Central Java.
"I hope the government, not only the Marine and Fisheries Office, but also other institution to participate and put more attention on mangrove preservation," Fuad said.(*)
KR-AES/HAJM/B003
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
