Indonesia is a country that has extraordinary natural wealth. One of the natural riches that characterizes Indonesia is the coastal tropical rainforest and sea. Coastal tropical rainforests are forests that grow in coastal areas with tropical climates, while the sea is the waters that surround the Indonesian islands. Indonesia's coastal and marine tropical rainforests are unique and stunningly beautiful, both in terms of flora, fauna and ecosystem.
Unique Aspects of Indonesian Coastal and Marine Tropical Rainforests
The uniqueness of Indonesia's coastal and marine tropical rainforests can be seen from the following aspects:
Oxygen aspect
This forest acts as the world's lungs, because it is able to produce oxygen that is around 40% of the earth's needs. This oxygen comes from the photosynthesis process carried out by green plants in the forest. This oxygen is very important for the life of living creatures on earth, especially humans.
Carbon aspect
This forest also stores carbon which can reduce the greenhouse effect. This carbon comes from the respiration process carried out by plants and animals in the forest. This carbon can be absorbed by soil, water, or biomass in the forest. This carbon can reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, which can cause global warming.
Aspects of natural resources
This forest is also an important natural resource for Indonesian people, both from an economic, social, cultural and ecological perspective. This forest provides various forest products, such as wood, rattan, resin, latex, honey, medicines, and others.
This forest is also a source of livelihood for indigenous and local communities living nearby. This forest is also an attractive source of natural tourism for visitors. This forest is also a source of environmental services, such as providing clean water, controlling soil erosion, protecting biodiversity, and so on.
Aspects of biodiversity
This forest is also a habitat for various types of rare and endemic animals, such as orangutans, Sumatran tigers, Javan rhinos, birds of paradise, and others. These animals have high conservation value, because they can only be found in Indonesia's coastal and marine tropical rainforests. These animals also have important ecological roles, such as flower pollinators, seed dispersers, pest predators, and so on.
Examples of Indonesian Coastal and Marine Tropical Rainforests
Indonesia's coastal tropical rainforests have diverse and distinctive flora, such as mangroves, nipah palms, pandanus, mangroves, sea cypress, and others. This flora adapts to wet, salty and windy environmental conditions. This flora also plays an important role in maintaining the balance of coastal ecosystems, such as preventing erosion, absorbing carbon dioxide, providing habitat for fauna, and protecting beaches from sea waves.
The Indonesian seas also have beautiful and exotic flora, such as coral reefs, seaweed, sea moss, and others. This flora grows in shallow waters exposed to sunlight. This flora also functions as a source of food, shelter and breeding ground for marine fauna. This flora also helps maintain sea water quality, regulates the climate, and absorbs pollutants.
The fauna that lives in Indonesia's coastal and marine tropical rainforests is also very diverse and unique, such as long-tailed monkeys, black langurs, proboscis monkeys, Komodo monitor lizards, green turtles, dolphins, whale sharks, manta rays, nemo fish, blue stingrays, mermaids, etc. This fauna has adaptations that suit its habitat. This fauna also has high economic and conservation value. This fauna is also an attraction for tourists who want to enjoy the natural beauty of Indonesia.
Indonesia's coastal and marine tropical rainforest ecosystems are also very unique and complex. These ecosystems are interconnected and influence each other. This ecosystem also has an important role in maintaining the sustainability of human life and other living creatures. This ecosystem is also vulnerable to threats such as climate change, pollution, illegal logging, overfishing, and others.
Rafflesia Arnoldi
One example of flora in Indonesia's coastal tropical rainforests is the Rafflesia Arnoldi flower. This flower is the largest flower in the world, with a diameter of up to 1 meter and a weight of up to 10 kg. This flower also has a very foul smell, so it is also called the corpse flower. This flower lives as a parasite on the roots or trunks of trees belonging to the grape tribe (Vitaceae). This flower only blooms for a few days and is rarely found. This flower is a protected species because its population is decreasing due to habitat destruction.
Starfish
An example of fauna in Indonesian seas is starfish. Starfish are invertebrates belonging to the phylum Echinodermata and class Asteroidea. Starfish are radially symmetrical animals and generally have five or more arms.
Starfish do not have a skeleton that can help them move. Their skeleton serves as protection. They move using tube feet located on the underside of their arms. These tube feet also function as a touch tool and a food catching tool.
Coral reefs
An example of Indonesia's coastal and marine ecosystem is the coral reef ecosystem. Coral reefs are a collection of marine animals that form hard, rock-like structures on the seabed. Coral reefs have many benefits, such as providing habitat and food for various types of fish and other marine biota, protecting beaches from abrasion, and attracting tourists to dive or snorkel.
However, Indonesia's coastal and marine tropical rainforests also face serious threats, namely deforestation due to illegal logging, land encroachment, palm oil plantations, mining and forest fires. This deforestation can cause environmental damage, climate change, species extinction, and social conflict. Therefore, it is necessary to conserve and restore Indonesia's coastal and marine tropical rainforests so that they can remain sustainable and beneficial for future generations.
