TEMPO.CO, Padang - Marine and fishery obeserver from Andalas University (Unand), Padang, West Sumatra, Indra Junaidi Zakaria said that the frequent forest wildfire is one of factors that triggers Indonesia’s coral reefs degradation.
“Forest fire can increase carbondioxyde emission in the air that makes temperature increase, this causes corals to turn white and then die,” said Indra in Padang.
In addition to emit carbon dioxyde, Indra said, smokes from the fire speeds up global warming in the air, land and sea. Most of the marine organisms, including coral reefs are absorbing carbondioxyde from the air. An increase in carbondioxyde content in the air leads to an increase of the substance absorbtion by the organisms.
The carbondioxyde also disrupts activity of corals and Molluscas to form their shells. In long-term exposure, it would leat to the extinction of the organisms.
Indra further explained that the increase sea temperature may be caused by high intensity of wildfire on the land above it. He put coral reefs around Kalimantan as an example where many coral reefs in the area turn white and dies.
It is possible, Indra added, that similar thing happens in other area where coral reefs are currently in better condition such as West Sumatra.
Meanwhile, Head of Sumbar Marine and Fisheries Agency Yos Meri said one of the attempts to save coral reefs is by performing coral transplantation. This method will regrow coral reefs as well as restores habitation around it.
ANTARA