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| Consulate General of the United States (US) that Andrew M. Veveiros and Linwood Pendleton together university students Halu Oleo (UHO). Foto: Muhamad Taslim Dalma |
Southeast Sulawesi News_ Kendari - Indonesia is one country that has the longest coastline in the world. Similarly, the United States. Preserving the coastal environment is a very important thing. Therefore, the consulate General of the United States (US) that Andrew M. Veveiros and Linwood Pendleton come give a public lecture to students Halu Oleo University (UHO) on the 4th Floor Rector, Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi.
"One of the important ecosystem on the coast are mangrove. Mangroves are important to preserve the beach and provides many benefits. Mangroves in addition to protecting beach is also a habitat for fish" Linwood said, Friday (04/25/2014).
Linwod explain mangrove save a lot of carbon stored till the soil and if the mangrove trees are cut, the carbon will be released into the air. Indonesia fairly bad condition due to air pollution generated in the country got a shipment of carbon contamination in the air from other countries.
"If mangroves continue to cut and exploited by society then millions of tons of carbon will be released into the air." Linwood said.
According Linwood mangrove very important role for coastal ecosystems, especially for people who live not far from the seafront because mangrove also be protective against rising sea levels. He deeply regretted that many Indonesian people who exploit mangrove forests.
"From ancient times to the present sea level fluctuate even tend to rise. Rising sea levels will be dangerous for the people living near the seafront. Different story if there is mangrove that can withstand ocean waves both rising sea levels and wave, " Linwood said.
Linwood recalled in the state of Mexico is not the government that took the initiative early to protect the coast but students and residents there. In Mexico ever there was road construction close to the coast. But after it was realized that the road blocking the ocean waves and shifting habitats living things around the beach. Pasirnyapun depleted sand-washed to sea.
Seeing the condition that such a move and the citizens of Mexico began to change. Road moved away from the coast and the environment result there back to normal. Finally there again for a holiday sea sand and the grass begins to grow bind the sand so as not to carry seawater.
Further Linwood, students in Mexico are also very concerned with the coastal environment. He pointed out that the students actively doing a little research on the condition of the coast.
"They start by digging holes on the beach. Usually if you get a cigarette butt or plastic waste handling will be done and the fact that the government immediately responded "Linwood said.
Moreover, Linwood recalled that in developed countries the United States is very anti the presence of mines near the beach even prohibited. Evidence of the attention that the US government concerned about the environment is the prohibition to build a mine near the beach, most are allowed only by sand mining but even then very limited.
Linwood said efforts Halu Oleo students to do is to conduct research on the shore so that the results can be shown to the government for further action. Minimum 1 meter beach one student. If it had been 50 students then it is known the condition of 50 meters from the long sandy beaches. Many things will be found as sediment cigarette butts and a variety of plastic waste if done a little digging.
Author: Muhamad Taslim Dalma (Reporter in Kendari)
