Antara 7 Oct 12;
Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - Tens of tons of plastic waste from the sea have been polluting the mangrove forest area in Ngurah Rai Forest Park, South Denpasar, spokesman of Bali forestry office said.
"Everyday we have four trucks fully loaded with plastic waste taken from the area. That waste is not from the mangrove forest but we think it came from the river and streamed down to the sea," Head of Protection Division of the Bali Forestry Office Suratman said here, Sunday.
The local authority is overwhelmed in cleaning the mangrove forest as the plastic waste is abundant, stuck in the mangrove roots, and scattered in the 102-hectare mangrove forest.
The cleaning service personnel also have to face the thick mud that could hamper and slow down the plastic waste removal in the area.
"We fail to prevent its (plastic waste) coming as it is from the sea," Suratman said.
The plastic waste usually can be seen during the noon until 04.00 p.m. local time when the tide is in low level.
Therefore, Suratman also urged people not to throw away plastic waste in the river or sea as they can be caught up and then polluted the mangrove forest.
Despite plastic waste, the Forest Park is also tainted by vandalism, graffiti on its pavement, gazebos or resting area and also the wooden tower.
The Head of Ngurah Rai Forest Park Office, Irwan Abdullah, said that the authority could not do much to prevent the vandalism.
"We have routinely asked and checked visitors to avoid committing the vandalism. But they somehow slipped and ignored the instruction," Irwan said.
(SYS/A059/B003)
Editor: Suryanto
