Ananta Wijaya, Contributor, Nusa Dua, Bali

Mangrove forests in Suwung, Bali once covered a vast area and were home to thousands of wild birds and other diverse species of animals and plants.

Passing the road near the 76-kilometer-long stretch of mangrove forest along the west coast of Mertasari and Sanur beaches to Tanjung Benoa harbor, south of Denpasar was memorable. In addition to its stunning panorama, one could observe amazing scenes of migrating birds in the morning and afternoon. But that was then. Now it is a different story.

The current mangrove forest area has been reduced to just 1,373 hectares. Some of the mangrove forest has been transformed into lavish business centers.

An environmentalist and a city planning observer from the Bali-based Udayana University, Nyoman Gelebet, expressed his concern over the gradual disappearance of mangrove forest.

Originally, he said, the mangrove forest was designated the city's buffer zone.

Gelebet explained that mangrove forests are very important for sustaining the local ecosystem. First, it is a fertile breeding ground for aquatic species like fish, which helps support local fishermen. Second, mangrove forests absorb carbon dioxide and replace it by breathing oxygen into the air. And it also provides an interesting tourist attraction.

More importantly, he added, the forested area is crucial in protecting Denpasar from the encroaching sea, which is gradually eroding the coastline.

"The development of business venues clearly violates existing zoning regulations," Gelebet said.

Between 1973 and l988, Bali's provincial government introduced a policy to conserve its forests.

A.A. Ngurah Made, former head of the environmental agency here, recalled during that period the local government introduced a policy to create a 306-hectare shrimp pond project, managed by CV Harapan, in the mangrove area, while at the same time implementing various replanting schemes.

But the lack of monitoring and law enforcement made the mangrove forest a target for greedy investors. Some public officials even issued permits to allow investors to operate in this protected area.

Violations worsened as investors eyed the mangrove forest. They considered it to be part of "the golden triangle", connecting the tourist resorts of Sanur, Nusa Dua and Kuta.

A recent study conducted by the Agency for Information Development Studies (LPIP) discovered the grim fact that more than 22 permits have been issued by the Ministry of Forestry and the local government to utilize the mangrove forest for purposes other than conservation and reforestation. These permits were issued by the two government agencies between l981 and l998.

Among the major permit holders are Bali's department of public works (in charge of 71 hectares), CV Harapan (140 hectares), PT Bali Turtle Island Development (81 hectares), state electricity company PT PLN (72 hectares) and PT Bali Tourism Development Corporations (32 hectares). In all, the 22 permits cover an area of between 429 hectares and 546 hectares -- or 40 percent of the total area.

Made Mangku, environmental conservation group coordinator of PT Centris Bali Mangrove Park said other small-scale companies have also violated the regulation.

"These violations occurred because of the local government's inconsistency in imposing its masterplan," claimed Ni Made Widiasri from the Wahana Bhakti Foundation.

"Bali is gradually destroying itself," she said.

I Made Arya Utama, an expert in environmental law, maintained the government has no choice but to bring these violators to court.

The government, he said, is also able to carry out a moratorium, create a forum that can effectively monitor the use of this mangrove forest. The forum should comprise of people from all related parties; the government, the community, non-governmental organizations and experts.

"We expect the government to issue a regulation that will provide an overview on the usage and function of local mangrove forests," Gelebet insisted.

Arwatha added that such a regulation would only be effective if all parties realize the importance of conserving the mangrove forest.

"Everybody must have a strong commitment, otherwise Bali's mangrove forests will sooner or later turn to concrete," he said.