The Regional Research and Innovation Agency (BRIDA) of Surabaya City is finalizing strategic steps to strengthen the function of the Gunung Anyar Mangrove Botanical Garden (KRM) as a biodiversity research center. Entering its third year of operation, the area is targeted to host at least 100 species of mangrove plants by next year.
Currently, Gunung Anyar KRM is recorded to have collected 74 types of mangroves. To bridge the gap from the set target, BRIDA Surabaya plans to organize scientific expeditions to various regions in Indonesia to search for and bring in new mangrove varieties that have not yet been collected in the area.
The Head of BRIDA Surabaya, Agus Imam Sonhaji, explained that this effort focuses on the biodiversity aspect, rather than just increasing the tree population quantitatively. According to him, the diversity of plant species is vital to provide comprehensive research material for academics and researchers.
Furthermore, Agus explained the clear division of roles in managing the coastal area in the "City of Heroes" (Surabaya). While BRIDA focuses on developing the Gunung Anyar KRM as an education and research center with a rich variety of species, the conservation and landscape protection functions in other coastal areas, such as Romokalisari, remain under the responsibility of the Food Security and Agriculture Department (DKPP).
This difference in focus has implications for the management approach in the field. A coastal conservation area is considered successful if it can create a dense, green mangrove forest to prevent abrasion, even if the plant species are limited. Conversely, Gunung Anyar KRM is required to have an abundant variety of species to support its role as a representative natural laboratory.
