. The Conservation Atlas of Tropical Forests: Asia and the Pacific. Indonesia Mangroves Mangroves are estimated to cover 44,130 sq. km in Indonesia (Table ), representing a major increase over an earlier estimate of 21,700 sq. km (lUCN, 1983). They are most extensive in Irian Jaya, particularly around Bintuni Bay in the north-west, but large tracts and many smaller formations occur scattered throughout the archi- pelago (Koesoebiono et al., 1982; Soegiarto and Polunin, 1982; Petocz, 1985 and Subagjo, 1987). Indonesian mangroves were Uttle affected by large-scale forest exploitation until 1
. The Conservation Atlas of Tropical Forests: Asia and the Pacific. Indonesia Mangroves Mangroves are estimated to cover 44,130 sq. km in Indonesia (Table ), representing a major increase over an earlier estimate of 21,700 sq. km (lUCN, 1983). They are most extensive in Irian Jaya, particularly around Bintuni Bay in the north-west, but large tracts and many smaller formations occur scattered throughout the archi- pelago (Koesoebiono et al., 1982; Soegiarto and Polunin, 1982; Petocz, 1985 and Subagjo, 1987). Indonesian mangroves were Uttle affected by large-scale forest exploitation until 1975 (lUCN, 1983), but they are probably now the most threatened forests in the archipelago (Petocz, 1985). Some destruction of mangroves has occurred as a result of over-exploilation by traditional users, but most destruction results from conversion of the land for agriculture, brackish water fishponds, salt ponds, and human settlement (Hanson and Koesoebiono, 1987). Fishponds are particularly extensive in Sulawesi, Java and Sumatra, extending to about 1850 sq. km by 1982 (Soemodihardjo, 1984). Since the mid-1970s mangrove forests in Indonesia have also been utilised for wood chips, exported to Japan for the production of cellulose or paper. There is no evidence that the care necessary to exploit the mangroves in a non-destructive manner is being taken, and in consequence forest regeneration is poor. Biodiversity No other country has responsibility for more diverse and unique species than does Indonesia. Although Indonesia occupies only per cent of the land surface of the globe it contains an estimated 10 per cent of all plant species, 12 per cent of mammals, 16 per cent of reptiles and amphibians and 17 per cent of birds. This is partly because it is situated at the heartland of the Asia-Pacific humid tropics, but also spreads into large areas of seasonal climate, so that both rain forest and monsoon elements occur. Indonesia's wildhfe is influenced by both the geological
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