Minister Observes Ngurah Rai Mangrove Forest Area

Denpasar (Antara Bali) - Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said Bali's  Ngurah Rai mangrove forest area could become a mangrove conservation pilot project on account of its good condition.

"The mangrove forests in the Ngurah Rai area are very dense so this region  can rightly serve as a  mangrove conservation pilot project," the  minister said after observing the forests on Saturday morning. .

Therefore, he said,  the local government and the people of Bali should  maintain and preserve the mangrove forests in the  Ngurah Rai area.

"All elements of the public  and the local government must  take care of and preserve these forests as they are an essential component in  the region's ecological balance,"  Zulkifli said, adding that mangrove forests fulfill many  functions such as  preventing land  abrasion and cushioning tsunamis.

According to the minister, 3.2 million or 41.9 percent of Indonesia's 7.7 million hectares of mangrove forests  were now in   damaged condition with  2.2 million hectares  seriously degraded.(**)