Surabaya (Greeners) – Surabaya administrative, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), and Indonesia Botanical Garden Foundation (YKRI) signed the world’s first mangrove botanical garden development in Surabaya, on Sunday (29/4).
The signing was attended by chair of YKRI, Megawati Soekarnoputri, 1st deputy chair YKRI Michael Sumarijanto, 2nd deputy chair YKRI Alexander Sonny Keraf, Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Susi Pudjiastuti, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, head of LIPI Bambang Subiyanto and Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini.
At the event, which also marked the peak of Jaga Bhumi Festival, Megawati said Indonesia is the largest nation, after Brazil, acknowledged by the world as contributor of oxygen, however its own environmental state is still concerning.
“I am concerned to see the maintenance of botanical gardens in Indonesia so I decide to establish Indonesian Botanical Garden Foundation. The effort to develop botanical gardens in Indonesia must be respected and appreciated as people still have the love and care for animals and plants, ” she said.
READ ALSO: Kalpataru Recipients Turn To Indonesian Botanical Gardens Foundation for Support
Meanwhile, Bambang Subiyanto said that Surabaya administrative requires science and technology support to deal with human and environment issues. He added that LIPI owns 48 working tasks from all sciences, including social, biodiversity, geo-technology to engineering.
“The MoU is expected becoming the foundation for LIPI’s task forces to cooperate on technical issues with units within Surabaya administrative,” Subiyanto said adding that mangrove ecosystem is an unique ecosystem where its organism and environment are affected by tides.
Photo: greeners.co/Dewi Purningsih
With 95,000 kilometers of coastline, he said, its mangrove ecosystem is massive.
Based on Ministry of Environment and Forestry data, Indonesia’s mangrove covers 3,49 million hectares or 23 percent out of total world’s mangrove. Geospatial Information Agency (BIG) in 2009 revealed at least 189 species out of 68 genus have been discovered in Indonesia.
Furthermore, Subiyanto said Surabaya Mangrove Botanical Gardens can be center of Indonesia’s mangrove conservation center.
READ ALSO: Surabaya To Develop Indonesia’s First Mangrove Botanical Garden
Sonny Keraf said that YKRI has a commitment to support endemic germplasm conservation in Indonesia by establishing more botanical gardens in the country.
“Previously, there were only four [botanical gardens]. Currently, there are 36 botanical gardens with 42 more are soon to be established. In addition, there are lots of head of districts propose to develop botanical gardens in their regions,” said Keraf.
Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini said the development of the world’s first mangrove botanical garden is a proud thing for Surabaya city, adding that her administration had allocated 2,800 hectares to serve as world’s lungs.
“I have reduced two degrees Celsius and I want to reduce two more degrees which is why I need the support of Surabaya people to achieve that. Mangrove Botanical Garden development is expected to give the impact of reducing the temperature in Surabaya so that people are comfortable living in the city,” she said.
Reports by Dewi Purningsih
21 Apr 2024 
