The beach ecosystem is crucial to all the species living in the sea. Moreover, it also helps to strengthen the beach from the waves and abrasion. The government built the Biak Mangrove Park to maintain a healthy ecosystem, where they planted many mangrove trees around the beach shore.
The Mangrove Park is located in Kampung Ruar, East Biak District, Biak Numfor Regency, Papua. The park is not only to maintain the beach ecosystem, but it also helps lift local people’s economy.
About Biak Mangrove Park
The Mangrove Park has an area of around 4 hectares. The one who manages it is the Office of the Unit of Protected Forest Stakeholders. The main reason for the park is to protect not only the ecosystem but also a great place to stroll and spend the holiday.
The Regent of Biak Numfor Herry Ario Naap said the mangrove forest park was prepared as a means of natural tourism. Thus, it builds Biak beach as a whole to make it beautiful and attractive.
Reaching Mangrove Park Biak’s tourist location only takes around 20 minutes from the city. It is approximately near and is only around 3 kilometers. Hence, it has easy access for tourists to visit the park.
The Biak Numfor Regency Government in 2023 plans to develop the mangrove forest park more as a tourist attraction. Moreover, they also plan this to be one of the ways to lift local people’s economy.
Biak Mangrove Park as a Tourist Attraction
The Government really puts effort into making Mangrove Park a tourist attraction.
“This year, we will expand the park to be a more attractive tourist destination,” said the Regent of Biak Numfor.
Moreover, to help this progress, they only charge an affordable fee starting from 10.000 rupiahs. The parking fee is also cheap, only IDR 5,000 for motorcycles and IDR 7,000 for cars.
As more people come to see the beauty of the East Biak coastal area, it also indirectly helps lift the economy of local people in the area. There are shops, services, and local cultural exhibitions to introduce to the tourists.
Many locals become tourist guides to guide both domestic and foreign tourists to see the beauty of the Biak coastal area. Youngsters in Biak also learn to see the diversity of people coming to their area, making it easier to learn from others.
Not only does it lift the economy and the socio-cultural of local people, but Biak Mangrove tourist destination also helps protect the beach.
Biak Mangrove Park as Ecosystem Protection
Killing two birds with one stone, the Mangrove Park in Biak not only functions as a tourist destination, but it also maintains its root as the main protector of the coastal area.
The shoreline is prone to get washed away by the abrasion. Moreover, if the high tide comes, it is harder for people to come and see the beach. It will be a dangerous area if not properly protected.
Hence, building the mangrove park and planting many mangrove roots there, it helps to sustain the ecosystem.
Not only it protects the shoreline from abrasion, but it also accommodates any living species under the sea. They usually live under the mangrove tree or shield under the roots.
Therefore, the ecosystem will be healthier and much better than not having mangrove roots at all. The government is planning to attract more tourists so more people will come to plant mangrove trees.
By building the Biak Mangrove Park, the government helps the local people lift their economy and protect the ecosystem. Biak hopefully will become one of the hot spots in Papua.
