Misery of Mangroves in Youtefa Bay

The presence of Youtefa Bridge and the Trans-Papua Highway over Youtefa Bay in the city of Jayapura, is invigorating the area’s economic activity. On the other hand, the bridge and highway have also destroyed forests.

The waters of Youtefa Bay in Jayapura city, Papua, were muddy and brown that afternoon. Plastic waste like used water bottles and liquor containers crowded the edge of the pier. The pervading smell of sewage in the air completed that murky afternoon in early December 2021.

At the edge of the pier, a senior high school student was turning his boat around. He was going home to Enggros village, located in the middle of Youtefa Bay.