Mangrove Forests in Bali

Mangrove forest are continuously being rehabilitated

Where nature tourism is integrated with conservation efforts

Indonesia, as a tropical island national, has around 17,500 islands with a coastline totaling 81,000 kilometers – a distance equal to twice the circumference of the earth. With this extensive coastline, Indonesia has the world’s greatest mangrove forests: 4.5 million hectares, or a quarter of the world’s total. Bali alone has 2,215 hectares of mangrove forest in various places, and one of the largest is in the Tanjung Benoa area. Mangrove (in Indonesian, bakau) is the name used for a wide variety of trees that grow in seawater tideland areas. Indonesia has around 89 species of mangroves, 30 of which are found in Bali.

Until recently, the public has thought of mangroves as no more than a type of coastal tree with various economic uses. Actually, mangrove forest have many functions, such as protecting the coasts from abrasion by waves, preventing erosion of soil that then washes away into the sea, providing a habitat for marine biota, capturing CO2 and producing O2 - oxygen – which is needed by humans and other living creatures. Mangrove forests can also be developed as ecotourism venues, with the mission of promoting proper management and conservation of the environment.

The journey started at the Mangrove Information Center (MIC), founded in 1993 by the Department of Forestry with the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and located at Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai, km 21, just 15 minutes from Kuta, or 20 minutes from the center of Denpasar. As you enter the area, you encounter a green panorama of mangrove forests along both sides of the road. This green belt plays an important role as the “lungs” of the city. The project emerged from concern over the large-scale destruction of these forests. Mangrove forests have rapidly been degraded through conversion into fish or shrimp cultivation ponds, rice fields, harbors, and industrial zones, and by excessive felling for various purposes. The project provides a venue for training, outreach, and education regarding sustainable management of the mangrove forest ecosystem, and also for ecotourism activities.

Head toward the Mangrove Trail, first, there is mangrove nursery, which provides seedlings for the mangrove forest rehabilitation process. Next is the Touch Pool, where visitors, students and families can learn about the environment through direct experience. There are two trails to choose from - a short route of about one hour, and the other, a longer route of nearly two hours.

Starting from the entry point to the Mangrove Trail, at a small structure called the Pond Heron Hut, the path is comprised of sturdy bridges made of Borneo ironwood (ulin), to prevent damage to the environment. The Mangrove Trail is 2150 meters long, 1850 meters of which is wooden bridges. Posted at the trailhead are a map of the trail and a notice reminding visitors about what activities are prohibited in the area. The trail is clearly marked at all points, so there is no risk of getting lost.

A walk along the wooden bridges, enjoying the greenery of the mangrove forests, is very pleasant indeed; it provides both recreation and an excellent opportunity for children to learn to love nature. Signs along the trail provide information about the various types of mangrove trees and the other creatures that live in the forest. There is also a tidy wooden rest shelter.

The mangrove roots that rise high above the surface of the marsh in artistic patterns play an important role in preventing coastal abrasion and soil erosion. Unfortunately, the area’s natural beauty is marred by certain people’s littering.

When the tide goes out, dozens of crabs can be seen scurrying along the ground, popping into holes as we approach and emerging again after we have passed. It’s not surprising to see such a variety of marine species there, because the mangrove forest serves as a nursery ground, feeding ground, and spawning ground for many types of fish, shrimp, crabs and other species.

Old mangrove trees grace the Benoa Bali port

Several creeks pass through the forest, with bridges crossing over them. These streams are an ideal place to explore the mangrove forests. The Mangrove Information Centre Schedules regular boat trips to explore the forests.

Wooden bridges are ideal for trekking

There are also several lookout towers, from which we can observe the forest and its birds and mammals. When the weather is clear, one can also see mountains in the distance – Gunung Agung and Gunung Batukaru. You can also watch the various species of birds and mammals, including storks, kingfishers and monitor lizards. It’s a perfect place for those who enjoy bird watching, or just to rest for a while after the walk. Gentle breezes relieve your fatigue and revive you to continue the trek.

The functions and benefits of the mangrove forests can no longer be ignored and it is essential that we preserve them. The many problems that the forests face, such as trash and land conversion, must be mitigated immediately, by raising public awareness. Proper synergy between humans and their natural environment will create tremendous benefits for all of us.

Fore more information, contact: Mangrove Information Centre (MIC) Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai km. 21, Suwung Kauh, Denpasar, Indonesia
Tel: 62-361-726969, 726546, 728966
Fax: 62-361-710473
Text by I.B. Andi Sucirta. Source: Garuda Mgz

West Sumatera

West Sumatera tourism map

The house or building with specific roof shape of Minang (Minang term: Bagonjong house) is common scene here. This is West Sumatera, a province with excessively tremendous panoramas.

West Sumatera traditional house

Walking along step by step in Minang land, West Sumatera, feels like enjoying series of amazing natural beauties. Beach, lake, bay, highland, canyon even mountain, become natural wealth that it’s superb hard to find matches. At certain point in West Sumatera, you can watch views maximally: it’s called ‘Panorama’. In cities, such as Bukittinggi and others, there are Panorama’s with magnificent views.

Jam Gadang (Gadang Watch) - Bukittinggi, West Sumatera

Bukittinggi
What an attractive city with its popular icon of Jam Gadang (Gadang Watch) it is. With its width of 25.24 km2 and surrounded by three mountains, Merapi, Singgalang, and Sago, makes Bukittinggi becoming a very special location. At Lubang Jepang panorama, there are comfortable place to enjoy views of Sianok Canyon, Singgalang and Merapi Mountain, including tower to get all sight from higher distance, and souvenir shops which offer things with relatively cheap price.

Padang City
Padang city by its 694.96 km2 width becomes one of West Sumatera’s large city. Moreover the city rich of natural sights from lowland until highland views. Your adventure should begin at sunrise. Bring your vehicle to Siti Nurbaya bridge: a curved big bridge; to get a view of ships with the background of hills. At the edge of city main roads stand various trees with green, yellow, red and many more leafs, moving our heart more glorifies God.

Teluk Bayur - West Sumatera

Teluk Bayur is a bay in Padang that its magical view can be seen from side road which beaded to Bungus. The dent of the bay combined beautifully with blue sky, and ships which go back and forth. At certain point, little tame monkeys, lively moved near peanut sellers inviting anybody to come near.

Padang Panjang
Padang Panjang is located between Bukittinggi and Padang. Merapi and Singgalang Mountain decorated by climbing down fog is the city’s main natural sight.

Padang restaurant

Besides Padang original food there are also Javanese and Sunda’s food available in few shops. Train station that once in a while is visited by classic train can be found here. Islamic atmosphere is quite strong among the city, so Padang Panjang has a special name The Veranda of Mekah.

Lake Sight
Some amazing big lakes in West Sumatera located near Solok. Diatas, Dibawah, Singkarak Lake and others show each charms. Diatas Lake is one of lake which its natural originally kept well. Its surrounding area has enormous cabbages plant as main agricultural crops. Unfortunately, in ordinary days, only very few people visits.

Lake Singkarak (Danau Singkarak) - West Sumatra, located between the cities of Padang Panjang and Solok and have appoximately 21 km long and 7 km wide

Find a nearest ‘Panorama’, which completely view of Diatas and Dibawah Lake are appeared. Bright weather with white cloud paraded united with lakes and hills will makes you impressed.

Now, is up to you whether you have enough time to enjoy all West Sumatera sights or not.

A Little Pieces from a Beautiful Indonesia View

Exotic, charming and wonderfully embracing, Indonesia is one of Southeast Asia’s Top Travel Destinations. It has one of the world's greatest tourism destinations in Bali. With the capital city Jakarta, it is a very interesting country to visit.

With a population of over 234 million people, it makes Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country and the most populous Muslim-majority nation. It is also known as the world's largest archipelagic state. Comprising about 17,508 islands (including big and small islands). The main islands are Kalimantan (539,460 km2), Sumatera (425,606 km2), Irian Jaya (421,981 km2), Sulawesi (174,219 km2), and Java (129,187 km2). Indonesia shares its land borders with Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, and East Timor. Indonesia is also adjacent to Australia to the south, Singapore to the north-west, Philipines to the north-east, and the Indian territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Indonesia truly is an amazing place with so much to offer tourists. The regular and most popular destinations of Bali, Lombok, Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Batam, Padang, Medan etc are only small part of the country and there are so many more undiscovered charms to be found. Explore more about the unique of Indonesia multi culture, give you some ideas of where to go and what to do. Wherever you go you can be assure that the people will welcome you with open arms, and sparkle smiles, and you may well quickly fall in love with many of the sights and diverse regions that Indonesia has to offer.

Art and culture resources belong to humanity as a whole and those of Indonesian are explicit expressions of life, born out of an extraordinary rich cultural heritage which have become a garden of Eden for social scientists and culture vultures; a veritable treasure chest of tradition waiting to be opened.

Every nation requires a heritage with which people continually interact cross culturally as well as cross generations, one which fuses past, present and future and Indonesia is home to tremendous and glorious legacies of the past, be they cultural or natural heritages. So, be the witness of your own.

People may say that there is only one world and it is getting smaller; but when comes to Indonesian marine resource, there seems to be a totally different world. Once under the waves a whole new world is waiting magnificent multi colored sea gardens, enormous coral, and myriad technocolored fish, wild dolphins and turtles to mention a few. So magnificent, that you definitely forget about time.

Our tropical forests bestowed on us by God, are the envy of many nations because of their abundant bio diversity. They have been waiting there for us to experience for ourselves, first hand, the miracles of Mother nature, previously only known to use through text books.

One of the legendary indigenous plants proudly displayed in botanical gardens around the world is the “bunga bangkai” (Rafflesia Arnoldi), display, reaching almost 1.5 meters in diameter, you can wonder at the spectacular spots on its giant petals. But the most amazing quality of the bunga bangkai is its nocturnal scent, said to resemble that of a corpse! That’s how it got its nick name.

Incomparable and unique, only our beautiful tropical forests offer this breath-taking sight, it truly is a pride of our nation.