- MANGROVE forest plays important role in protecting the island from tsunami and abrasion.
- Apart from them, it can also be taken advantage for recreation site including education purposes
In addition to natural beach attractions, Bali still has a number of other alluring natural tourism potentials to visit. One of them is the Bali mangrove forest area. This forest sits in the south, west Bali and Nusa Penida.
The area of mangrove forest in Southern part of Bali stretches from the west of Mertasari Beach (north of Serangan Island) to the area around the Nusa Dua area, southernmost tip of Bali Island. It covers an area of approximately 1,373 hectares. This area is named the Ngurah Rai Grand Forest Park (Tahura).
This stretch of mangrove forest plays an important role as the lungs of the Island of the Gods in absorbing carbon dioxide, maintaining clean air and supplying fresh oxygen for all its citizens.
In addition, this green gem also functions as a barrier when there is a tsunami disaster and a barrier to coastal abrasion.
Public participation
Maintaining the preservation of mangrove forest areas is not only the responsibility of the government. On many occasions, a number of community groups, companies, NGOs and the general public have played a role in helping to preserve this mangrove.
They help clean up the plastic waste that gets stuck in the mangrove roots. Surely this can interfere with the respiration of the mangrove roots which in turn causes the death or extinction of the mangrove itself.
Meanwhile, the other activities carried out are planting or replanting the areas where mangrove trees are dead.
Around 16 types of mangroves grow in this Bali mangrove forest area where they are dominated by Rhizophora, Bruguiera, and Xylocarpus.
Mangrove trees provide shade for aquatic and land animals in the vicinity. According to the latest records of the Ngurah Rai Grand Forest Park, there are about 61 species of birds, four reptiles, 30 species of shrimp and crabs, and eight species of fish around the mangrove forest area.
Ecotourism
The management of this mangrove forest area is an example of the government’s success in nature conservation because of the collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Thanks to this collaboration, the idea emerged to create a trekking recreation concept by building wooden bridges. This enable visitors to explore the whole forest area and enjoy its beauty.
In addition to the important role mentioned above, mangrove forests are also used for recreational facilities. Visitors or tourists can visit and explore the Grand Forest Park (Tahura) of mangrove forest area because a wooden bridge has been built. The management office hours are from 08:00 to 18:00 Local Time.
What can be seen here? Many kinds of things. What is certain is that by buying a ticket here, visitors can have a closer look at the mangrove forest along with its fauna such as birds, reptiles, crabs and others.
Since this Bali Mangrove forest sits in a strategic area at the intersection of the tourist areas of the Island of the Gods such as Sanur Beach, Kuta Beach, and Jimbaran Area, this condition is very easy for visitors to make a visit to this tourist attractions to be resumed to the others. That’s why it is often packaged as an appealing destination for tour packages, especially for destinations to the south.
Members of the local fishermen group offer boating services to explore the mangrove forest area as well as fishing activities. This boat ride activity even crosses the Bali Mandara Toll Road area.
This Tahura presents a green and fresh atmosphere because the nature is still green, protected from pollution, and suitable for a place to relax or recreation to avoid the hustle and bustle of daily life or business.
In addition, this Tahura is also ideal for study tour destinations for school children where they can learn more about the habitat and mangrove conservation.
