ULM launches mangrove planting movement in Kotabaru

Kotabaru, South Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The University of Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) launched mangrove planting movement on approximately 611 hectares mangrove land it manages in a production forest in Kotabaru District, South Kalimantan.

"We work with the local community to promote this planting," said ULM Vice Rector for Cooperation, Public Relation, and Information System Yusuf Azis here Saturday.

The planting was initiated by the ULM's Academic Support Unit for Wetland Environment (UPA LLB) and attended by representatives of the academic community from each of ULM work units in the series of its 66th anniversary.

Six villages that were included in the mangrove area were planted with hundreds of mangrove seedlings simultaneously.

"We are assigned by the government to protect mangroves, thus it is our duty to plant and care them for oxygen alms,” said Yusuf.

In the first two year of mangrove management in Kotabaru, he expounded, community development will be implemented to support programs to carry out in the next.

One of the activities is planting, which is expected to contribute a lot to earth conservation considering mangrove as a natural carbon sink that is effective in reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change mitigation.

ULM then encourages the growth of ecotourism which has an impact on improving the economy of the local people.

"We also want many domestic and foreign researchers to come to do research which ultimately contributes to the wider introduction of Kotabaru mangrove," he said.

Previously, ULM through the Berkah Wasaka Mandiri Cooperative had received the government's letter approving the commitment of forest utilization business licensing (PBPH) on ±611 hectares production forest in Kotabaru.

The issuance of the letter makes ULM one step closer to be the only university in the world to own and manage mangrove land.