Enviro News Asia, Semarang – Minister of Environment and Head of the Environmental Control Agency, Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, has prioritized mangrove planting in Timbulsloko, Demak Regency, Central Java. This initiative addresses land subsidence in the area, which has been decreasing by approximately 10 centimeters annually, causing it to sink and be inundated by seawater.
“If immediate mitigation measures are not taken, the area submerged by seawater will expand, causing greater harm to the surrounding community,” said Minister Hanif Faisol Nurofiq during a working visit to Tawang Station in Semarang on Thursday (December 26, 2024).
In the first phase, Hanif continued, around 700 hectares of mangroves will be planted. Mangroves were chosen as they have proven highly effective in preventing abrasion and environmental damage in coastal areas. Indonesia is recognized as the country with the largest mangrove forest area globally, covering 3.36 million hectares or 23.5 percent of the world’s total mangrove area. More than 150 species of plants fall under the mangrove category, including Rhizophora, Avicennia, and Bruguiera. These mangrove areas are widely distributed across Kalimantan, Sumatra, Papua, Sulawesi, and Java.
Mangroves also have an extraordinary capacity for carbon storage, retaining up to five times more carbon than regular forests. This makes mangroves a global focal point in climate change mitigation efforts. Socioeconomically, mangroves serve as breeding grounds for various species of fish, shrimp, and crabs, which, when properly managed, can improve the livelihoods of local communities.
In addition to planting mangroves, Hanif emphasized efforts to restore degraded mangrove areas, particularly inactive fishponds. Furthermore, he plans to inspect the 46 hectares of mangroves cleared for the Demak-Semarang sea toll road project. If necessary, Hanif pledged to provide compensation for the affected areas. “I haven’t thoroughly reviewed it yet, but if needed, we will carry out land conversion and provide compensation because mangroves must not be cut down,” he stated firmly.
