REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDA ACEH - Mangrove forest located in Aceh Tamiang, Aceh, is prone to extinction because most of the area is turned into fishpond and palm plantation. The remaining area is now only 35 percent out of 24,000 hectares, according to the Head of Research and Development of Indonesia Forestry in Aceh Tamiang, Sayed Mahdi.

"We found people committed illegal logging. They use the wood for charcoal," he said.

The mangrove area in Aceh Tamiang spread in three regions, Seruway, Bendahara, and Manyak Payed. A wide range of species live inside the forest, such as Aviceania, Rhizophora apiculatta, and Rhizopora mucronata.

He added the mangrove forest had an important role to protect the land from sea waves. A 200-meter square mangrove with sufficient density can be a barrier against strong tidal wave, including tsunami.

Yet, according to another research by Center of Research and Development of Ministry of Forestry, the diversion of mangrove into fishpond produces 247 kilogram fish per year. But it also causes the decreasing production of fish catch in 840 kilogram per year.

"It shows that mangrove should be maintained as preserved area," he said.

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