PANDEGLANG, BANTEN — Dompet Dhuafa through the Department of Culture and Environment held a 1,000 Mangrove Planting Action in the coastal area of Cigondang and Margasana Villages, Labuan, Pandeglang, on Sunday (17/9/2023). With the theme “Freedom from Disasters, I Protect Nature”, the mangrove planting that day became a joint effort in caring for the nature of the archipelago. Previously, mangrove planting had also been carried out in Rembang, Pacitan, and Kelapa Seribu Island.
Banten’s Head of Environment, Wawan Gunawan, was also present to give a speech and open the 1,000 Mangrove Planting action that morning. He said that air pollution in DKI Jakarta and Banten is quite high and unfavorable. Mangroves are one of the solutions to absorb and improve air quality.
“Mangroves can help protect Banten from tidal floods or erosion. Also, absorbing air quality that is not good at this time. But we must protect it, because 67 percent of mangrove forests are lost by shifting,” said Wawan.
Complementing this, Nurarif Rohman, an environmental activist in Pandeglang, said that the Labuan coastal area is indeed prone to disasters, such as earthquakes, Krakatau eruptions, and tsunamis. Almost every year, the coastal area also experiences tidal floods.
“Mangroves are one of the solutions to prevent abrasion and flash floods. The directly affected areas are Labuan, Sumur, Panimbang, and Carita for the South Pandeglang region. Mangroves can help more than 50 percent to hold back the sea water,” Nurarif explained.
“If there is flooding, the impact is that fish becomes expensive and difficult to find by fishermen. Many boats are damaged and houses on the coast are destroyed. Hopefully, we are not only busy planting, but it is equally important to take care of it,” he added.
Also read: To prevent Abrasion, DMC and Several Institutions Plant Thousands of Mangroves in Pacitan
In line with that, Unaimah Sanaya as Chairperson of PN Nashlathul Aisyiah Banten said, “We see several areas of abrasion. We have to be responsive to the things that exist in the community in our own area. Inshallah, with this, we will also be active in planting in the Lebak area.”
Yes, there needs to be a harmonious, synergistic, realistic, and holistic climate of cooperation among stakeholders, both government and private. Mangrove seedling planting programs are needed to restore the sustainability of the coastal environment and restore the habitat of mangrove forest flora and fauna that live in mangrove forest ecosystems.
Mangrove Planting Action is an effort to gradually restore coastal agroecosystems, land, and forests for the welfare of the community, restore the condition of mangrove forests and land, increase the economic capacity of the community in utilizing resources from mangrove forests, realize the preservation of biodiversity, develop human resources, brackish forestry, and prevent abrasion.
Also read: Planting 2000 Mangroves in Pacitan, An Effort to Survive Coastal Disasters
Ahmad Shonhaji as Director of Social Services, Da’wah, and Culture of Dompet Dhuafa, on his occasion said that as an Islamic philanthropic institution Dompet Dhuafa seeks to channel the mandate of the people transparently in the form of programs that are felt directly by the community.
“Today is a forum to establish friendship in maintaining, preserving the environment and culture. The focus is on the relationship between humans and nature. Of course, what we do is how we convey to the community as well as to donors and partners. This is a shared responsibility. Today is a joint synergy, this shows the spirit of uniting the people, “said Ahmad Shonhaji. (Dompet Dhuafa/Dhika Prabowo)