Jakarta, Aug. 22 -- The Ministry of Forestry has halted the encroachment of 500 hectares of mangrove forest for oil palm plantations in Kuala Genting Village, Aceh Tamiang District, Aceh.

The ministry's Director General of Law Enforcement, Dwi Januanto Nugroho, on Friday, noted that such an encroachment action was considered detrimental since the mangrove forest ecosystem in Aceh Tamiang is a natural resource that serves important ecological and socio-economic functions.

"From a socio-economic perspective, mangrove forests can provide a source of livelihoods for the community, a tourist destination, and a source of raw materials for various products. This natural resource wealth must be maintained according to its intended function," Nu...