Criticism Continues to Mount on Appointment of Private Company to Manage Bali’s Protected Mangrove Forest Area
A senior researcher for The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Dr. Suharsono, has joined the debate over the leasing of the Ngurah Rai Mangrove Forest in Bali by telling Seputarbali.com
he does not agree with the privatization of the management of such
areas. “I don’t agree that Tahura (Ngurah Rai Mangrove Forest) be given
over to private investor management because on the sustainable
protection and preservation of the forest is be done on the one hand for
reasons of sustainability, while on the other there are plans to build
the tourism facilities there,” he said.
Suharsono said the reasons behind the provincial government of Bali’s decision to grant private sector management of Tahura remains
unclear. Also perplexing for the highly regarded academic and
researcher are plans by the company to develop facilities within the
mangrove zone. Adding, “If they are only building a jogging track that
will not affect Tahura. But if there are tourism facilities that include
restaurants, then these outlets will affect the surrounding
environment.” Professor Suharsono said that mangrove forested areas must
be allowed to remain wild, developing freely without any outside
intervention.
“According to me, it is best if the
provincial government manage (the mangrove forest). What’s more, the
mangrove forest in this area is very limited. So, if it is managed by an
investor, the forest will be exploited.” Speaking to the press, the LIPI
official underlined the importance of the mangrove forest as a barrier
against high waves and erosion, while at the same time absorbing carbons
as part of efforts to reduce global warming. Suharsono said that prior
to any decision being taken by the provincial government on the
management of the mangrove forest, a comprehensive review is first need
that involved both the legislature and the general public.
In the current situation, he explained,
the public feels bypassed with the lease and permit covering the next 55
years being issued without any public hearings. Separately, the
chairman of the environmental impact division of the research center for
environmental studies at Udayana University, Dr. Made Sudiana
Mahendra, says that the carrying capacity of Bali’s southern region has
been surpassed, a situation that will only be worsened by the
construction of tourism facilities in the Tahura Mangrove forest.
“I am extremely disappointed that that the permit has been issued. Was
this discussed beforehand wit the DPRD (House of Representatives)?”
Continuing, Mahendra called on the government to comprehensively
reconsider the permit issued to a private company to manage the
102.22-hectare mangrove area.
source : bali discovery news
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar