Kotawaringin Barat – After succeeding in planting 33,000 mangrove trees during its first stage program in 2021-2022, the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), in cooperation with the maritime and investment coordinating ministry (Kemenko Marves) and Talok Mangrove Group in Sabuai village in Kotawaringin Barat regency of Central Kalimantan province has continued the mangrove planting activities under its second stage program this year.
Attended by Kotawaringin Barat Acting Regent Budi Santosa, the mangrove planting program was conducted in the coastal village of Sabuai in Kumai district of Kotawaringin Barat regency on Saturday, 24 June 2023.
“GAPKI’s program of planting mangrove is very outstanding. It stands as an incredible example for others to emulate,” Budi Santosa said when addressing the program launching ceremony.
Expressing his high appreciation to GAPKI and Kemenko Marves, he said that the collaboration will help protect the environment in the regency.
Agam Fatchurrochman, Head of Positive Campaign Division at GAPKI, said that the success rate of mangrove planting during their first stage program was 90%. During the first stage program, they managed to plant 1,650 seedlings (5%) and 31,350 seeds of mangrove fruits (95%) in a land site of 10 hectares with a planting density of 1.00 meter to each other, and lane distance of 4.00 meters to each lane.
During the second stage program, they will plant the mangrove seeds and seedlings on a landsite of around 20 hectares, adjacent to the location of first stage. The planting program will be implemented in two sessions of planting this year.
A total of 26,400 seedlings of mangrove have been prepared for the first planting session of the second program. The seedlings consist of 2,640 seedlings of Avicennia type, 21,120 seedlings of Rhizophora type, and 2,640 seedlings of Sonneratia type.
Meanwhile, Forest Conservation and Usage Control Coordinator at the maritime and investment coordinating ministry (Kemenko Marves), Fatma Puspitasari said that Kemenko Marves highly appreciates the commitment of GAPKI to rehabilitate mangrove forest. “The palm oil industry players deserve our high appreciation for their contribution in rehabilitating the mangrove forest,” said Fatma.
The program has been well implemented under the leadership of M. Sasi Fikri, Head of the Sabuai Mangrove Group which is the executor of the planting program, Noviyanti as the secretary of the Group, and under the supervision of Sabuai Village Head Tohari and Masruni Abdullah as a representative of GAPKI in the region.
Also taking part in the planting program was GAPKI Executive Director Mukti Sardjono who underlined the strong commitment of GAPKI in protecting and conserving the environment, while giving positive impact to the people living around.
“We hope this program can significantly contribute to the efforts of keeping the sustainability of mangrove ecosystem and supporting the efforts of mitigating the impact of climate change,” said Mukti.
The planting of mangrove will not only provide ecological benefits, but it will also help generating a sustainable growth of local economy as the local people depend on the natural resources available around them.
During a discussion between Acting Regent Budi Santosa and Sabuai people, they informed that the previous mangrove conservation has resulted in the rising population of fishes, crabs and other marine animals, so that their fish catch has also increased. (*)