Earth Day 2022
Mangrove to Save The Earth
ecology foundation/04-22-2022
The whole world commemorates Earth Day on April 22 every year as a form of appreciation for the earth as well as increasing human awareness of the importance of protecting this earth. You should know, Earth Day was initiated by Gaylord Nelson and was commemorated for the first time on April 22, 1970. This 2022 Earth Day commemoration also carries the theme “Invest in Our Planet” which contains a campaign calling for environmental sustainability as part of investing in the future. In addition, this year’s Earth Day also carries the sub-theme “Nature in the Race to Zero”. This sub-theme highlights the world’s agenda for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to keep global temperatures below 1.5°C. Launching from the LiveScience page, Susan Clayton, a Professor of Psychology and Environmental Studies at Wooster College in Ohio said that Earth Day reminds people to think about human values, the threats facing the planet, and how to help protect the environment.
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​There are many things that can be done in an effort to protect the earth, one of which is to protect and preserve marine and coastal ecosystems. Coastal ecosystems such as mangroves have a very crucial role in mitigating climate change, namely as carbon sinks or known as blue carbon. The largest amount of mangrove cover can be found in Indonesia, where mangrove trees cover about 23,000 square kilometers (about 14,000 square miles), which is more than twice the size of Jamaica or roughly the size of Vermont.
Given the vital functions of mangroves for human life: ecosystem services, climate disaster mitigation because of their role as carbon sinks, natural protectors from ocean waves, and so on, it is very important for us to preserve the existence of this mangrove ecosystem. Unfortunately, this ecosystem, which has a vital function and role for the earth and humans, faces various threats, such as the conversion of mangrove forests which are used for various human interests and the use of mangrove wood for exploitative economic needs. And sadly, the threat of damage to mangroves occurs in almost all over the world. For this reason, effective efforts are needed to protect mangroves from these various damages.
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Now in Indonesia itself, one of the efforts made to protect and preserve the mangrove ecosystem is to establish a Marine Protected Area. In addition, mangrove rehabilitation programs or activities should be carried out in locations with low mangrove density. In this regard, both the government and the community must participate and cooperate in the conservation and protection of mangroves so that their sustainability can be maintained. Mangrove ecosystems that are maintained and protected will ensure human safety from climate disasters and other natural disasters.
