JAKARTA (JP): As Jakarta and its people remain wrapped in their own problems, the obstacles faced by Muara Angke wildlife reserve -- one of few reserves left in the capital -- go almost unnoticed.

The reserve, along with its surviving mangrove, which is essential to prevent seawater intrusion, is filled with filthy garbage and waste rushing in from nearby Angke River.

A mangrove's survival depends much on sea tides. Too much freshwater will adversely affect the growth of mangrove trees as they will be dwarfed and become highly vulnerable to pests.

Environment activist Reza Maulana of the Jakarta-based Institute for Mangrove Development and Analysis (LPP Mangrove), said, "The mangrove will eventually die if the drainage remains blocked (and more freshwater streams into the area)."

The reserve, which covers over 25 hectares of land, is administratively part of Kapuk Muara, Penjaringan district, North Jakarta. It used to be a nature reserve until its status was changed in 1998 based on Minister of Forestry and Plantations Decree No. 755.

In the south and the west, the reserve shares borders with Pantai Indah Kapuk housing complex; in the east, the Angke river; and in the north is the Angke Kapuk protected forest.

The mangrove is the only natural habitat for the area's flora and fauna.

However, the reserve is now mostly flooded. Only a few plants, mostly swamp and wetland plants like nipah (thatch palm) and sea banyan, which are reached by the tides, manage to grow.

The situation is depressing as the reserve is home to a number of bird species such as blekok sawah (Ardeola speciosa), minor egrets (Egretta garzetta), and pecuk ular (Anhinga melanogaste). Many of these birds can be found perching in the mangrove trees, especially along the river basin, and they seem accustomed to the motorized fishing boats moving along the river.

Traditional fisherman find this place a haven for their hobby. Freshwater fish like lele (catfish) or gabus (snake-head fish) abound in this reserve.

The reserve also boasts Ancol monkeys (Macaca fascularis), the only primate left there now. The monkeys, which can be found in groups in several parts of the reserve, live in misery. With habitat degradation, many animals in the area consume whatever they can find as it is hard to find proper food.

"I've often found a group of monkeys scratching for food along the Angke river's estuary," said reserve warden Naman.

Along the roadside bordering the reserve, he said, people can often be seen giving these monkeys food like bread, biscuits or peanuts out of pity.

Efforts

Many representatives from the community, organizations and local administration have been trying to find the best way to maintain the existence of this reserve.

In December 1999, LPP Mangrove, with the Kehati Foundation, State Minister of the Environment's office, the Jakarta environmental impact management agency, the city administration's forestry office and members of the community worked together to plant pidada (Sonneratia caseolaris) and tancang (Bruguiera sp) trees over a 2.5-hectare area of the reserve.

In October and November, a number of university students, in cooperation with relevant government agencies, took part in rehabilitating the reserve by planting over 2,000 mangrove trees -- between six months and 12 months old -- at several locations.

Such activities are expected to further encourage people to help save the reserve's deteriorating ecosystem and biodiversity.

"Until now, trees have been successfully planted in only five hectares of the area," said Reza, LPP Mangrove's program development officer, adding that limited funds is one of the main constraints to continuing the project.

Indonesia's mangroves are the world's largest -- accounting for 18 percent to 23 percent of mangroves worldwide.

According to official data, Irian Jaya's mangroves, which cover 1.35 million hectares, 38 percent of the country's total mangroves, is the country's largest.

Next on the list is Kalimantan with 978,200 hectares, 28 percent of the country's total mangroves, followed by Sumatra with 673,000 hectares, 19 percent.

Quite a few of products can be derived, directly or indirectly, from mangroves.

For quite a long time, mangrove wood has been traditionally used for many things, mainly by local people living along coastal areas. They use the wood as house pillars, planks and roof beams. Since the wood can generate great heat, it is also good as firewood.

Another plant found in mangroves, thatch palm, is also useful because its sap can be made into sugar. As for the pidada, its fruits are a favorite with the monkeys.

A mangrove -- which is an ideal habitat for marine biota and a place where fish, shrimps or crustaceans multiply -- is very important to prevent sea water intrusion.