The Concept of School as Mangrove Conservation Efforts

Conditions mangrove ecosystem in Indonesia lately looks quite alarming to the decline in quality and quantity. The population is increasing and causing a growing urgency, so venturing into marine ecosystems, especially mangrove. Indonesia has mangrove areas formerly reaching 75% of the total mangrove in Southeast Asia, or 27% of the area of ​​mangrove internationally. Data Indonesian mangrove forest area continues to decline from 4.25 million hectares in 1982 to approximately 3.24 million hectares in 1987, and the remaining area of ​​2.50 million hectares in 1993.

Natural conditions of mangrove forest in Cilacap, Central Java, especially Segara Chicks on the present land area has decreased as a result of human activities that illegal logging thereby accelerating destruction of mangrove. In Segara Chicks, which is a trade mark of the city of Cilacap which covers about 2,500 thousand ha, now living 600 ha. Maintenance and preservation of mangroves is necessary given the existence of mangroves is essential to the coast.

Mangroves have an important role in the prevention of abrasion waves of the beach, where spawning fish in the waters, protective inland from the wind, filter sea water intrusion into the mainland and content results in heavy metals that are harmful to life, a haven of migratory birds, and as a wildlife habitat and other direct benefits for humans. Mangrove also produce nutrients that nourish marine waters, mangrove assist in the cycle of nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen and sulfur, as well as mangrove waters rich in nutrients both organic and inorganic nutrients. With an average high primary production that mangroves can sustain populations of fish, crustaceans, shellfish and more. Mangroves provide a breeding and rearing for several species of marine animals of high economic value.

Mangrove forests in terms of social and economic also has a function as a place of nature, a place of research in education, firewood, charcoal and paper raw materials, as well as palm leaves for roofing houses; producing tannin for the manufacture of inks, plastics, adhesives, preservatives net and leather tanning; produce crops (The fish / shrimp / crab), and drugs leaves Bruguiera sexan-sugar for inhibiting tumor drug, Ceriops tagal and Xylo-Carpus mollucensis for toothache medicine, etc.); where livelihoods of fishermen catching and farmers, and craftsmen roofs and nipa sugar.

Seeing the importance of the role of the mangrove forests, it is necessary for the preservation of mangrove school is more intensive. Conservation is done by replanting mangrove trees and greater utilization of the mangrove forests in terms of natural attractions that can increase knowledge for visitors. Travel is not just fun to enjoy the beauty of nature, but they also learn about the mangrove forest on the importance of mangrove forests and the conservation of the site. It aims to broaden the horizon for the tourists and that they become aware of the mangrove forests so that there is an awareness for them to continue to preserve it. It is necessary for the implementation of mangrove school system.

Preservation of mangroves have pursued them with counseling to the public about the importance of mangrove forests, but has not made public can play an active role in their own consciousness for preservation. The concept of school as mangrove conservation efforts in the immediate mangrove saplings cilacap is a new concept. Mangrove school or school magrove an educational tool for the community and tourists in the form of small schools who learn about the importance of mangroves, including mangrove preservation. Mangrove school gives understanding to the general public with knowledge of the functions and benefits of mangroves to the surrounding community and tourists, especially students, do a tour without changing the zoning of mangroves due to a more structured, provide jobs for people around the mangrove forest, creating new business opportunities that have the potential for personal, groups, and communities so as to preserve mangrove replanting intensive way. Mangrove school is expected to be an alternative to coastal communities that are skilled in mangrove conservation.

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Characterisation of mangrove forest types in view of conservation andmanagement

Categories: Biology, Mangrove, Plants