By Imam Hanafi
Kotabaru, South Kalimantan ( Antaranews ) - The Kotabaru Forestry Agency has been rehabilitated an area of 560 hectares of mangrove forests in critical coastal areas in the last two years.
Head of Kotabaru Forestry Agency Rurien Hardjanti here on Saturday said the mangrove planting carried out in 2011 covering an area of 250 hectares, and 310 hectares in 2012 then there were 13,000 trees planted in 2013.
"The (rehabilataton) in period of 2011 was in the Sebanti coastal, West Pulaulaut covering an area of 50 ha, and 200 ha in Sebelimbingan, North Pulaulaut," he said.
Rurien added, rehabilitation carried out in the period of 2013 was in Sekandis, South Pamukan, with 8,000 mangrove stems, and 5,000 mangroves in Sesulung , South Pamukan.
Then 10 ha in Stagen, North Pulaulaut, 20 ha in Pudi, North Kelumpang, 60 ha in Karang Sari Indah, East Pulaulaut, and in Sebelimbingan, North Pulaulaut covering 220 ha.
"Rehabilitation in Sebelimbingan, Karang Sari Indah, and Pudi financed by state budget, while the rest use district budget funds," he said adding that the mangrove rehabilitation involving a number of groups of farmers and fishermen in some areas nearby.
Meanwhile, based on 2009 data, in Kotabaru there are 442 thousand hectares or more, or about 46 percent of the approximately 945 thousand hectares of coastal areas were in critical condition.
Among which 442 thousand ha consisting of 14.6 thousand ha in very critical condition, 250.4 thousand ha in critical condition , and 176.9 thousand ha somewhat critical. While 450.6 thousand ha potentially critical and 52.9 thousand ha was not critical.
