Seventy percent of Indonesia's mangrove forests damaged: minister

Forestry Minister MS Kaban said here Indonesia had 9.4 million hectares of mangroves but about 70% of them were in damaged condition. He said lack of understanding among local people about the importance of the mangrove ecosystem had helped speed up mangrove forest degradation. The minister said mangrove forests were performing an important function in preventing land abrasion by sea waves and tsunamis. "Mangroves can also serve as a source of wood for human beings and as habitats for other creatures," he said. (http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2008/4/15/seventy-pct-of-ris-mangrove-forests-damaged-minister/)