Indonesia: Mangroves for life
Indonesia: Mangroves for life
Posted on Jul 30, 2013. Included in Bulletin 192
According to The World’s Mangroves 1980-2005 (FAO 2007), Indonesia has the largest mangrove area in the world in terms of the extent of the region. However, the condition of mangroves has declined both in quality and quantity from year to year. In 1982, Indonesia’s mangrove forests covered an area of 4,25 million ha, while in 2009 it was estimated to be less than 1,9 million ha (KIARA, 2010).
For example, according to the “Status of Environment in Indonesia 2009”, issued by the Ministry of Environment, “The mangrove forests in North Sumatra covered 306,154.20 ha, 9.86% of which was in poor condition”.
The decline of quality and quantity of mangrove forests has affected the buffer capacity of coastal ecosystems crucial for the survival of coastal species and other marine life, as well as for the survival of coastal communities, because of increased abrasion, reduction in fisheries catches, the intrusion of sea water further inland, the spread of malaria, and so on.
On the East coast of Northern Sumatra, the mangrove area decreased by 59.68% from 103,425 ha in 1977 to 41,700 ha in 2006 (Onrizal 2006). Similarly, data for the Sumatra region (2010) mentions that the mangrove forests in the Langkat district were 35,000 ha. Now only 10,000 ha are left in good condition. The decline in quantity and quality is caused by the expansion of oil palm plantations and shrimp farms in coastal areas which besides damaging coastal ecosystems also have a negative impact on the income of traditional fisherfolk.
The Sumatra Case
Mangrove forest is very important for coastal communities, as is the case of the communities of the East Coast of Langkat district, North Sumatra. In Langkat, 35,000 hectares of mangrove forest stretch along 110 kilometers bordered by the Deli Serdang Regency and East Aceh district, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. Only the remaining 10,000 acres are in good condition.
Coastal communities are very concerned about the reduction of mangrove forest which not only affects the income of fisherfolk but also makes communities more vulnerable to disasters. In terms of income, for example, fisherfolk have to go further away from the estuary out to the sea to catch fish.
The damage to the mangrove ecosystem has been going on since 1980, shortly after the government implemented the expansion of shrimp farms. Spread of diseases affected the quality of shrimp as well as the quality of the coastal environment.
Conversion of mangrove forests into oil palm plantations has taken place in almost all coastal areas in Langkat, including Secanggang, Tanjung Pura, Gebang, Babalan, Sei Lepan, Brandan West, Pangkalan Susu, Besitang, and Pematang Jaya, with coastal communities rejecting them.
Table I. The extensive damage of mangrove forests in Langkat
No. | Sub-district | Area (Ha) | Area – heavily affected (Ha) |
1 | Secanggang | 9.520 | 1.125 |
2 | Tanjung Pura | 2.750 | 2.110 |
3 | Gebang | 4.959 | 4.959 |
4 | Babalan | 1.700 | 1.200 |
5 | Sei Lapan | 1.200 | 885 |
6 | Brandan Barat | 4.808 | 4.808 |
7 | Besitang | 5.457 | 5.457 |
8 | Pangkalan Susu | 4.876 | 4.876 |
9 | Pematang Jaya | – | – |
Total | 35.000 | 25.420 |
No | Conversion Results | Wide (Ha) |
1 | Farms/ oil palm plantations | 19.750 |
2 | Cutting mangroves | 980 |
3 | Damage | 3.450 |
4 | Other uses | 3.040 |
Total | 25.420 |