VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo planted mangroves and released bondol eagles in Batam on Wednesday, August 7. The activity was carried out together with the Organization of Solidarity Action Cabinet Work and the Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar, as a series of activities to commemorate National Day of Nature Conservation 2019. Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar in his speech at the peak of the commemoration of the National Nature Conservation Day at the Muka Kuning Tourism Park said, the participation of the First Lady as a sign that concern for conservation has become a public concern.

“This means that conservation is now a concern for the people of this nation. I and all of us, I'm sure are happy because the first lady has been so concerned about mangroves that are valued and can actually provide welfare for the people. The first lady invites all of us,” said Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar in his speech at the peak of the commemoration of the National Nature Conservation Day at the Muka Kuning Tourism Park .

Minister Siti further explained, during a G20 discussion in Osaka, Japan at the end of June, Mrs. Iriana explained about Indonesian mangroves and how Indonesia gave concern to mangroves. 170 thousand mangrove stems have been planted in 34 provinces in Indonesia. She explained mangroves are the second best plant for storing carbon after peat, or equivalent to five times normal forest. Currently, Indonesia has more than 3 million mangroves, 54 percent are in forest areas, 46 percent are outside forest areas, and in several places it has become an industrial location. Related to that, her office is currently making regulations to overcome the problem of mangrove land transfer. At the climate summit meeting in New York, in September, President Joko Widodo will raise the issue of mangrove conservation. (VOI/SEKAR/AHM)