ITB Students Plant Mangrove to Prevent Abration
CIREBON, itb.ac.id- The condition of the coastline in Cirebon, 7 kilometers wide, is currently worrying. Around twenty percent of the coastline is sustaining considerable damage. This damage happened due to the habit of the local population that cut down mangrove trees for their daily needs.
To prevent abration, students of Oceanography Major planted mangrove trees in the Kesendenap Beach, Cirebon. This program was attended by the head of Marine, Fishery, Livestock, and Farming Affairs Office, Ir. H. Odi Suryadi.
According to Dr. Mutiara Rahmat Putri, Head of the ITB Oceanography Department, this activity is also useful to acquaint students with professions concerning oceanography. The amount of mangrove trees planted reached 1,290. Aside from planting trees, the students will also hold a seminar and a blood donation program.
Ir. H. Odi Suryadi welcomed the students' awareness and willingness to act. He hoped that the planting would work in preventing further abration. "If the trees work, then the people would be the ones enjoying the fruit of the success," he stated.
This year the Marine Affairs Office targets the planting of 14.000 mangrove trees alongside the coastline of Cirebon. "The mangroves will be planted in more protected spots so that they'll be able to grow without the threat of tides," Odi claimed at Sunday (11/21/10). Odi also hoped that the local population would be able to keep the newly planted trees from being cut and therefore repeating the same catastrophe.
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