The governor made the statement while participating in a mangrove-planting activity on Setokok Island, Batam City, in commemoration of the 78th anniversary of the Independence Day of Indonesia.
The government is expected to study and investigate the cause of mangrove's death in Ambon Bay.
The activity was part of Hutan Merdeka IV program.
![A boat crosses a development area where mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass beds were suspected to have been damaged, on Biawak Island in Pari Island, Seribu Islands, Jakarta, on Thursday (January 23, 2025) [ANTARA/Prisca Triferna/rst]](https://media.theindonesia.id/thumbs/2025/01/24/57998-thousand-islands/653x366-img-57998-thousand-islands.jpg)
TheIndonesia.id - The Ministry of Environment is working with related authorities to assess the environmental damage caused by reclamation activities at Pari Island, Jakarta, including destruction to mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass beds.
On January 23, 2025, Rasio Ridho Sani, deputy for pollution and environmental damage control, confirmed that the ministry is investigating the impact of these activities, particularly the damage caused by dredging.
According to Antara News Agency, he emphasized the importance of collaborating with other ministries, local governments, and experts to address and repair the harm done to the ecosystem.
In addition, Rizal Irawan, the ministry's deputy for law enforcement, announced that a team of experts will calculate the full extent of environmental, economic, and social losses due to the dredging. This process will focus on the destruction of 62 square meters of sea floor, damaging vital marine habitats.
The reclamation project, aimed at building a tourist pier and floating cottages, sparked protests from Pari Island residents after the dredging led to the loss of 40,000 mangrove trees and the degradation of marine life. In response, the ministry halted the operation and vowed to restore the mangroves.
