Fidelis E Satriastanti, Jakarta Globe 26 Jan 10;
Following the resolution of a 12-year dispute with local fish farmers, the Angke Kapuk Nature Reserve — the last mangrove forest in Jakarta — was finally opened to the public on Monday as a recreation, education and mangrove preservation site.
The dispute over the area, located in North Jakarta just a few kilometers from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, involved fish farmers who have been managing their ponds at the nature reserve for years.
The farmers objected to the Ministry of Forestry’s decision in 1998 to grant concessionaire rights to PT Murinda Karya Lestari to manage the 100-hectare nature reserve for the next 30 years, not only as a mangrove rehabilitation center, but also as a location dedicated to tourism and education purposes.
Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said during the opening of the nature reserve that the dispute stemmed from the local people’s limited understanding of the meaning of conservation areas.
“This place used to be covered with illegal ponds managed by only a few people, but as a conservation area it will bring greater benefits to more people, not only North Jakarta residents, but everyone,” Zulkifli said.
“This is the only mangrove forest left in Jakarta. That is why we need to explain to [the fish farmers] that this area also functions as part of the city’s green space, [which is quite small] considering Jakarta has only put aside 5 percent of its total area for this purpose, even though regulations stipulate it should be 30 percent,” he added.
Arief Toengkagie, head of the Jakarta Natural Resources Conservation Center, said that only 10 percent of the reserve was being used for development purposes while the remainder was for mangrove conservation.
“This is different from the Muara Angke Wildlife Reserve [only 25 hectares located in North Jakarta], which is dedicated to research with no other human activities allowed,” he said. “However, we are continuing our mangrove replanting program in Angke Kapuk and so far we have managed to plant 60 percent of the area.”
Arief added that the nature reserve could attract up to 100 visitors per month, who would be able to stay for two nights for a minimum Rp 3 million ($320). Zulkifli added that the reserve could also attract foreign tourists.
Arief said: “Now we have set up gazebos, coffee shops, camp grounds and even a bird watching facility.”
Zulfiki said that illegal fish farming in the conservation area would be punishable by 10 years in prison and a Rp 1 billion fine.
Bambang Sugiyono, the North Jakarta mayor, said his municipality had been given a huge task by the Jakarta governor of establishing a green belt in order to decrease the effects of flooding in the capital.
City has first mangrove conservation park
The Jakarta Post 27 Jan 10;
Eco-tourism lovers now have a new location in which to enjoy nature and preserve it at the same time at the newly opened Angke Kapuk natural tourism park in North Jakarta.
Inaugurated on Monday by Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan, the 99.8 hectare swampy park, set up help preserving millions of mangrove trees, dozens of rare birds, turtles, monitor lizards and sea animals, features a restaurant, bathrooms, playground and 38 wooden huts. Other facilities include canoes and rubber boats.
"The Angke Kapuk natural tourism park is the second of its kind in Indonesia after Ngurah Rai Forest Park. I hope this park, located near the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, can become a major foreign tourist destination," Zulkifli said at the inauguration ceremony.
Visitors to the site, located next to Muara Angke mangrove conservation forest and the upscale Pantai Indah Kapuk housing complex, can also see rare birds from all over the world, Bambang A. Putra, the marketing director of the park's management firm PT Murindra Karya Lestari, said,
"Visitors can view the birds using binoculars in the watching tower," Bambang said, adding that the park was a transit point for various species of birds.
"Even the Sunda coucal *Centropus nigrorufus*, a vulnerable spe-cies, can be found in the park," Bambang said.
He added that he expected companies could make use of the park for gatherings or for corporate social responsibility activities.
"Many companies have planted mangroves here even before the opening," he said.
Murindra president director Murniwati Harahap said that apart from the Rp 10,000 (US$1) entrance fee, visitors could join a package tour for Rp 100,000.
"They can plant two mangrove trees and have their names carved on a plank near the trees. We will take care of the trees for two years."
Murniwati said she hoped the park would attract children "because they are the next custodians of nature".
Families can rent wooden huts of various sizes from between Rp 350,000 to Rp 1.5 million per night.
It took 12 years for Murindra to transform the land, which was a wild mangrove forest threatened by illegal fishing.
"After obtaining a license to manage the area 12 years ago, we began planting new mangrove trees," Murniwati said.
"Residents used to chop down the mangrove trees to build fish farms," she added.
"It was very difficult to grow mangroves. Frequently, farmers would illegally chopped down the trees right after we planted them. Now, we have fenced off the surrounding area to prevent similar occurrences.
"The farmers did not realize that mangrove trees protect the area from land erosion, storm surges and even tsunamis. Mangroves also filter out pollutants from sea water," she elaborated.
The Forestry Ministry, North Jakarta municipality and local police said they would enforce the legal protection of the mangrove forest by implementing the 1999 Forestry Law, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for anyone who damages mangroves or captures animals within the park.
North Jakarta Mayor Bambang Sugiyono welcomed the new park, saying it would help the municipality revive its mangrove forest.
The park will add to the expansion of the city's green zones, increasing the area from 179.56 hectares at present to 334.7 hectares in the future, Sugiyono said. (mrs)
