Bandar Lampung – A new satellite image shows that about 96 percent of total mangrove forests in Lampung have disappeared, a mangrove conservation working group from Lampung Province says.

"Most of the total 93,938.84 hectares mangrove forests in Lampung have been chopped down for certain purposes, including for fishpond and tourism areas, leaving only 3,108 hectares of mangrove forests," said Herza Yulianto, a member of the Mangrove Forest Conservation Working Group, in Bandar Lampung, on Friday.

He said the latest satellite image showed that more than 96 percent of total mangrove forests in Lampung had been converted into either fishponds or tourism sites. "It will threaten the livelihood of the local people in the future," he said as quoted by Antara.

Mangrove forests can protect land from waves and floods, giving them an important role as sediment traps. Their roots provide an ecologically important habitat for feeding grounds of fish and prawns.

According to the working group, Herza said, the National Land Body had provided too simple procedures of land conversion in coastal areas. As a result, many mangrove forests have been converted into fishpond areas. "The government should not consider only the regional income but also the local people's livelihood for the future," he said.