Sekotong Mangrove Forest

Have you been in Mangrove Forest before? If your answer is not yet, I have one of recommended Mangrove forests to see. This forest lies on the southern part of Lombok. It is located in Yat Mayang village, Labuan Tereng, Sekotong Timur.

In this place, thousands of mangroves firmly stand on 240 hectares muddy land. As you step on the path and keep walking among the mangroves, you will find your self get lost in the greens. Birds twit and chirp. Some crabs and fish are hiding under the clawing roots. At the end you will stand before the ocean, look upon the blue sky.

This Mangrove Forest is developed since 2011. Every year about 500 seeds of mangroves are planted. Rhizophora stylosa is the dominant mangrove type which is mostly planted in this area. This conservation is supported by government, private company and society. People who stay around this mangrove forest have high awareness about how important the mangrove is. Further, mangrove seedling becomes one of the main business opportunities. One seed of mangrove costs IDR 200.

Besides people use mangrove not only for the shake of water land ecosystem but also it is used in various way such as its fruit is used to make a cake and the flesh from its fruit is used for main ingredient in making natural color. In this area there are some houses used mangroves woods to build their houses. Mangrove wood is very strong. It can not be eaten by bugs.

To get there you need to follow Mataram-Cakra-Gerung-Lembar-Sekotong Timur. This place is accessible by public transportation until Lembar. Therefore it would be better if you use private car or motorbike. It is only 40 minutes from Mataram.