Kotabaru's six environmental activists proposed to be Kalpataru recipients

Kotabaru, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Environment Agency of Kotabaru, South Kalimantan, has proposed six environmental activists to be the recipients of Kalpataru award.

"They are Wardi of Pembelacanan Village, Tri Widodo of Tegal Rejo Vilage, and Rabiatul Adawiya from Langadai Village, Kelumpang Hilir Sub-district," said Head of the Environment Agency H. M. Maulidiansyah when confirmed here, Thursday.

Then Bahtiar of Sarang Tiung Village, Ali Mukhdin of Mega Sari Village, Pulau Laut Utara Sub-=district, and Sapril of Gunung Ulin Village.

These six, said the Head of Environmental Management of the agency Hj. Diana, are environmentalists who actively conserving mangrove, ulin (ironwood), as well as carrying out garbage bank.

"One of them is Wardi. He plants mangrove =a=long the coast of Pembelacananan Village covering an area of eight hectare with 8,000 seeds," she said. 
Wardi did it himself from nursery, care, and planting.

Diana, who was accompanied by Secretary of Sub-district Head of  Kelumpang Selatan Sugeng, expounded that his motivation was considering= the fish catches of the fishermen in the village continued to decline.

She believes that the decline was caused by the damage to mangrove forest which has also an impact on survival of marine life

In addition, local people found it difficult to get =clean water due to their wells were increasingly damaged by seawater intrusion.

"Since mangrove planting on the coast of Pembelacan Village, the location is now starting to grow marine fish habitat. Mangrove trees are also able to reduce the risk of erosion and other impacts from the incoming waves," she said.