Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Mangrove has a great economic potential that can be used for the needs of industries, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said here on Sunday.
"Mangrove has a great economic potential. Its shoots can be processed into livestock feed and its fruits can be used as raw materials for flour and syrup," Zulkifli said.
He made the statement after attending a function of PT Bank Mandiri to plant of 2,300 mangrove seedlings at an area of 99.8 hectares in the Angke Kapuk tourism park in North Jakarta.
On the occasion, the minister noted that such a tropical tree that grows in the mud of at the edge of rivers could also be exploited as charcoal, firewood, wood flakes, and pulp.
Further, he explained that mangrove forest could produce clean water and fresh air.
Even a study of the Directorate General of Land Rehabilitation and Social Forestry (RLPS) from the Forestry Ministry in 2008 indicated that a total economic value of mangrove ecosystem reached Rp29.1 million per hectare per year. (*/T007)
