Agnes S. Jayakarna, Jakarta Post 26 Dec 09;
The Surabaya municipal administration will work with a number of institutions to develop a mangrove forest along the city's eastern coastal area, citing the impacts of global warming.
Surabaya Development Planning Agency head Tri Risma Harini said recently the administration had proposed Rp 3 billion for the project from the 2010 municipal budget.
"We plan to allocate money to fund the development of a Mangrove Information Center, or MIC, which is expected to be completed in 2010," she said.
She added the administration was working on the plan with cigarette producer PT H.M. Sampoerna and was now finishing up the project's detailed engineering design.
Risma also said the city had allocated 2,551 hectares for the mangrove forest conservation project. The site straddles the districts of Rungkut, Sukolilo and Gununganyar.
Fifty-one hectares will be used for the conservation center, Risma went on, with 200 hectares as a supporting area and the rest to be developed as a cultivation area.
She added the cultivation area would feature ecotourism facilities, fish ponds and an ecofriendly camping ground.
All facilities within this area will be built in an environmentally friendly manner, she said.
Under a 2007 municipal bylaw on zoning, the Surabaya administration has redesigned much of the city's eastern area as a conservation zone. Previously, most of these areas were used for commercial and residential development.
Risma said the mangrove forest development project was aimed at protecting the city's coastal area from erosion and to support the conservation of the habitats of endemic species of birds, mammals, fish and insects.
The Nature Conservation and Education Foundation (YPKA) has repeatedly called on the municipal administration to urgently develop the city's eastern coastal area as a conservation area, citing the continued existence of the 16 mangrove, 137 bird, seven mammal, 18 fish, 10 amphibian, seven crustacean and 53 insect species living there.
YPKA researcher Ahmad Suwandi said the area played a key role as a transit point for migratory birds flying from Australia and New Zealand to Siberia.
December and February marks the high point of the birds' migratory stopover in Surabaya.
Risma said the municipal administration would seek interested third parties to help in the development of the eastern coastal area as a conservation site.
"We need others to join with us to make the project a success," she said.
"We are also encouraging local residents to support the program in order to create a better environment for all."
In the first phase of educating the public on the need to conserve the area, the Surabaya administration has invited residents of Rungkut, Gununganyar and Sukolilo to get involved in mangrove conservation in their areas.
Residents are also encouraged to protect and plant mangrove trees.
