Indonesia: President calls for preservation of mangroves

Antara 26 Jun 13;

Tanjung Benoa, Bali (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called for the preservation of 3.7 million hectares of mangrove forest which is crucial to prevent abrasion.

Indonesia must safeguard its around 130 million hectares of forest area and 3.7 million hectares of mangrove forest, the head of state said when launching a mangrove save campaign here on Wednesday,

Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono on the occasion planted mangrove trees at Telaga Waja area, Benoa, Bali.

"We should give an example and become a role model. I encourage all to plant mangrove trees," he said in the event initiated by the Bali Mangrove Forum.

The special guest of the event was Real Madrid soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal. The famous football player has been named a Bali mangrove envoy by the Bali Mangrove Forum set up by Indonesian tycoon Tomy Winata.

Also present on the occasion were Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan and Environmental Affairs Minister Baltazhar Kambuaya. (*)

Editor: Heru

President Yudhoyono attends Bali mangrove planting event
Antara 26 Jun 13;

Tanjung Benoa, Bali, June 26 (Antara) - President Susilo Yudhoyono attended mangrove tree planting event at Telaga Waja Benoa area in Bali on Wednesday.

Themed Save Mangrove, Save Earth 2013, the mangrove planting event was part of an effort to protect mangrove forest along the coast of Bali Island.

The event was initiated by Bali Mangrove Care Forum where all environmental activists, especially the mangrove activists, can align their vision as well as planning and manifesting the mangrove protection, conservation, and utilization.

Also present besides the president were Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan, Environment Minister Berth Kambuaya, a number of ambassadors, institutional leaders, public figures, environmental activists, and soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo in March 2013 was appointed to be the Care Forum Ambassador of Balinese Mangrove, which means he is the Indonesian Mangrove Ambassador as well.

Indonesia notably has approximately 3.7 million hectares of mangrove forest which is ranked the largest in Asia and even in the world.

According to a number of researches, the mangrove forest is able to capture carbon footprint up to five times more than the land forest.

Even though the Indonesian mangrove forest is only approximately two percent of the entire country's forest, it certainly can store up to 10 percent of the carbon footprint.

Therefore, the existence of the mangrove forest extremely supports the 26 percent reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions and 41 percent emission reduction with the international collaboration in 2020.

(F001/O001)

Editor: Ade Marboen