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 |
Table 2. Conversion of mangrove forests
| 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 |
The companies which have been denounced for carrying out practices
that have converted mangrove forest into plantations are PT Sari Bumi
Mangrove (SBB), PT. Pelita Nusantara Sejahtera (PNS), PT. Marihot, PT.
Buana, PT CP, as well as individual representatives from the winning
party of the 2009 election. The Indonesian Traditional Fishermen’s
Association (KNTI) evaluates that the forest and land rehabilitation
program ongoing since 2006-2008 has failed because the practices of
mangrove conversion continues to take place on a large scale.
Mangrove conversion poses new problems for the fisherfolk and coastal
communities of Langkat district, North Sumatra. , including: (1)
coastal erosion due to conversion of mangrove ecosystems in the
sub-district of Pesisit and Small Island, Langkat district, (2) loss of
some places to make a living for coastal communities in the villages of
Perlis, Kelanta, Lubuk Kasih, and Pangkalan Batu; (3) increasingly high
costs to fisherfolk because the fishermen need to go further out to sea
in search of fish, (4) potential increase of conflicts; (5) loss of
opportunities to use the land for agriculture, (6) loss of underground
water as a source of clean water for 180,000 inhabitants of the Haru Bay
community, Langkat, due to water intrusion from the sea, and (7)
growing risk for communities from high tides due to the loss of mangrove
ecosystems.
Mangrove loss
In the past two decades, one-third of the mangrove forests have been
destroyed in the world. The UK Royal Society, made up of many of the
world’s most distinguished scientists, mentioned that the damage has
been caused by human activity, particularly the expansion of ponds for
shrimp farming.
The People’s Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA) estimates that
the extent of mangrove forests in Indonesia has drastically shrunk from
4,25 million hectares in 1982 to less than 1,9 million hectares in 2013.
Forest degradation has led to loss of flood control and consequently
loss of productivity of fisheries and other coastal habitat while
further increasing the vulnerability of coastal communities to storms
and high waves. As a result, livelihoods become disconnected and
drug-addiction in coastal communities has increased.
The government -especially the Ministry of Marine Affairs and
Fisheries- views nature as a mere commodity for the benefit of a small
number of people. The damage to mangrove forests reflects the lack of
appreciation of the government for the role played by mangroves.
The study of the UK Royal Society found that the damage to mangrove
forests caused by the expansion of shrimp farms is not comparable to the
losses in well-being of coastal communities and nature. In Thailand,
for example, shrimp farms give a profit of US$ 9,632 per ha that only
benefit a handful of people. Yet, these farms cause extensive damage,
which the Royal Society has put at least at US$ 12,392. While
calculations of damage resulting from such activities are to be
considered with caution, they indicate that the public bears an enormous
cost, not just financially, that outstrips the profit made by a few.
Thailand’s experience where gains are privatised and costs borne by
the public should guide policies related to the protection against
exploitation of important and critical ecosystems like mangroves which,
moreover, concern the lives of many people. The three main factors
causing damage to mangroves in Indonesia are:
First, conversion for aquaculture industry expansion, as is the case in Lampung province.
Second, conversion of mangrove forest for urban expansion, as happened in the Gulf of Jakarta, Padang (West Sumatra), Makassar, and Manado (North Sulawesi). Third, damage caused by environmental pollution. Current expansion of oil palm plantations also exacerbates the damage to mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia.
Second, conversion of mangrove forest for urban expansion, as happened in the Gulf of Jakarta, Padang (West Sumatra), Makassar, and Manado (North Sulawesi). Third, damage caused by environmental pollution. Current expansion of oil palm plantations also exacerbates the damage to mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia.
As a result of monitoring activities carried out by KIARA, in the
district of Langkat, North Sumatra, for example, mangrove conversion to
oil palm plantations stretched to a distance of less than 5 meters from
the coastline which obviously is not in conformity with the legally
required protection of coastal ecosystems in Indonesia. If this trend
continues, more massive ecological disaster will occur on the Indonesian
archipelago.
Mangroves as living space
Indonesia, which has one-fifth of the mangroves in the world, is
experiencing a process of massive destruction by the aquaculture
industry, mainly by shrimp farms, resulting in income loss for local
fisherfolk.
One of the main threats to the sustainability of fisheries is the
destruction of coastal ecosystems, including mangrove forests, which is
exacerbated by climate change. The effect is increasing ocean
temperatures and ocean acidification, accelerating the process of
changes in the condition of aquatic ecosystems. Climate change will
alter the distribution and productivity of fish and other marine and
freshwater species. This has an impact on the sustainability of
fisheries and aquaculture, especially for coastal communities whose
livelihoods depend on fishing.
Ironically, coastal areas and fishing grounds are now treated as mere
commodities. In fact, Japanese companies control the pearl industry;
Thailand and Taiwan are already planning to expand the fishing and
aquaculture industries; several European entrepreneurs control the
marine tourism industry, while the United States, Germany, and Australia
promote marine conservation through ‘Blue Carbon’, citing climate
change in Indonesia as a need to protect marine areas, resulting in the
privatization of traditional fishing grounds and/or coastal areas.
Ultimately, the existence of mangrove forests as green belts needs to
be protected by strict rules, clearing for shrimp farms must be halted,
as well as for industrial plantations, and private tourism in mangrove
forests which restrict the rights of traditional fisherfolk and coastal
communities. Organizations like the Indonesian Women-fishers’ Fraternity
(initiated by KIARA and Alliance for Prosperous Village) have shown
that instead, community-driven initiatives through which mangroves can
provide income and guarantee the well-being of the local communities
help protect mangroves and should be strengthened.
By Abdul Halim, General Secretary of The People’s Coalition for
Fisheries Justice (KIARA) – Indonesia, e-mail: sobatliem007@gmail.com
Sumber: http://wrm.org.uy/wp/blog/articles-from-the-wrm-bulletin/section1/indonesia-mangroves-for-life/
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