On June 5th, to commemorate the World Environment Day, The Directorate-General of Postal and Telecommunication of Indonesia issue the special stamp of "Environtment Care" series, in addition to the issuance, the souvenir sheet will be issued. At the same time the Indonesian Postal Administration issued the FDC. There are two different stamp designs, both wil be printed in denomination of Rp 1500,-.

The World Environment Day theme selected for 2005 is "Green Cities" and the slogan is "Plan for the Planet!"   The theme and slogan are interpreted by the Ministry of Environtmental become "Make Earth Clean and Green". World Environtment Day will be commemorated by all people in the world with colorful activities such as street rallies, bicycles parades, green concerts, essays and poster competition in schools, tree planting, as well as recycling and clean-up campaigns. The World Environment Day theme and slogan are chosen as the theme of The First day Cover's design.

Beside that, 'Mangrove Forest' is chosen as the theme of stamp's design. The purpose is to socialize to Indonesia people the significance of the Mangrove Forest Conservation to the ecosystem protection mainly of coastal areas. Because we believe that if the society aware the benefits, they will actively take part in the efforts of rehabilitation and consevation of the Mangrove Forest.

MANGROVE FOREST

The word "mangrove" is combination of Portuguese "mangue" (English : fen) and English "grove", used to refer to a group of floral species that grow in tropical low marshy area at latitudes below 30 degrees. Mangrove plants are unique for they have the characteristics of both land and ocean plants, commonly they have extensive root functions as part of respiration system (pneumatophora) and produce much organic detritus to create a unique coastal environment for marine lives.    This root sytem happens to be their response (adaptation) to the less-oxygen habitat. Mangrove forest defined as the communities of floras (trees, shrubs, or forests) that grow  along an-aerobic coastlines in tropical areas. Their roots provide a breeding ground for plant and animal biodiversity, and also aid in building up coastlines.

The roles and benefits of the mangrove forest can be concluded as follows:

• The best natural protector against coastal erosion. Naturally protect the environment from the damage caused by tsunami, or at least it would reduce the effects.
• Produce economical benefits to the surrounding society as they produce many forest goods such as wood, alcohol, sugar, leather cover material, roof material, etc.
• Mangrove forest are also exclusive habitat for many species of fishes, also some endemic and nearly extinct faunas such as Bekantan monkey, Sumatera Tiger, Wiwo, Black Bubut, Javanese  white egret. Migrant birds transit to mangrove forest before continue to their destination.
• Mangrove forest can be tourist destination

On the other hand, potential consequences of the damage of mangrove forest are coastal abrasion, salt-water intrusion, flood, decreasing fishery recources, etc.

As archipelago with 75% consist of water areas, indonesia has very large coastal areas with coastline as long as 81000 km. Total area of mangrove ecosystems of Indonesia is equal to 75% of the total area of mangrove ecosystem of south-east Asia, it is over 27% of world mangroves. They spread over mainly the coastal areas of Sumatera, Borneo, and Papua. Indonesian mangroves have the highest diversity of species in the world. There are 89 species known in Indonesia, the most commonly found species are Rhizopora spp, Avicennia spp, Sonneratia spp, Bruguiera spp, Xylocarpus spp, Cerios spp, and Exoecaria spp.

Somehow, the area of mangrove forest in Indonesia has been dramatically deceasing. In 1982 it is recorded that the total area was 4.25 millions hectares but in 1987 it was only 3.24 millions hectares left. The tend of decreasing indicates the occurence of degradation of mangrove forest in this country, which is about 200,000 hectares per year. The misperception of the people on mangrove is one of the main causes of decreasing of mangrove forest. many people believe that mangrove forest are grubby and suitable places for mosquitoes, flies, and other insects to nest and breed, therefore they unnecessarily cut them through for the shake of sanitary. In fact they shouldn't do it because, if the ecosystem of mangroves are protected well, they will naturally keep the balance of the habitat so it will  make the environment healthy for human to live in. The exlpoitation of mangrove foreast with no regard to the ecosystems happens to be the second thing to blame for the damage of mangrove forest in Indnesia.

On the other hand, mangrove forest constitute the flow natural resources which is renewable. They have both ecological and economical functions. In regard to that matte, the Indonesia Government has regulated the management of mangrove forest by legalizing the Public Act number  41 Year 1999, Concerning Forestry. The usage of mangrove forest for economical benefits such as tambak (brackish water ponds), farming, industry, timber, etc) must be conducted by regarding to the mangrove ecosystems preservation. Rehabilitation of mangrove ecosystems is a must, to bring back the original functions as the habitat of some species of fish and shrimp, mitigation of natural disaster, pollution, abrasion and salt-water intrusion. The Aceh  tsunami on December 26th 2005 has taught  us that, the damage of the areas which the mangrove forest still in good condition was not a bad as those without mangrove forest and those which the mangrove forest was damaged. So, there is no other option but "SAVE THE MANGROVE FOREST NOW!".

edited by M.Subkhan from many resources

TECHNICAL DETAIL

STAMPS

Classification Stamp : Special Stamp

Product code   : 051004

Issue Date       : 5 June 2005

Denomination  : 2 x Rp 1,500.00

Size                 : 41.06 mm x 25.31 mm 

Perforations      : 12.75 x 13.50

Sheet composition : 20 pieces (5x4) 

Price per Sheet       : Rp 30,000.00

Colour             : 5 colours

Paper               : Tullis Russel 

Gum                 : PVA

Printing Process : Offset

Printing quantity     : 200,000 sets

Designers         : Eye Studio 

Printer              : PT AMG

SOUVENIR SHEET (SS)

Product code     : 051404

Denomination     : Rp 3,000.00

Printing quantity : 30,000 spcs

Designer : Eye Studio

FIRST DAY COVER (FDC)

Product code     : 052104

Price                 : Rp 5,000.00

Printing quantity : 4,000 sets

Designer           : Tata Sugiarta 

Stamp Sales Period : 5 June 2005 - 31 December 2008

Period of Validity For Postage : 5 June 2005 - 31 December 2010

Others Related Series:

Environmental Care 2007

Environmental Care 2006