Potential of mangrove ecosystem as coastal tourism based on biophysical conditions and water quality in Cilamaya Wetan, Karawang Regency

Abstract

Mangrove ecosystem is the ecosystems that has an important role not only for the life of flora and fauna, but also for the society around the ecosystem. This ecosystem needs to be considered for its sustainability as an effort to utilize the ecosystem. Cilamaya Wetan Sub-district is one of the sub-districts in Karawang Regency which has a very wide mangrove forest that reaches 1,019 ha. Biophysical condition and water quality, and also location factors for accessibility and its distance from the settlement need to consider, in which to develop mangrove ecosystem into tourism. Biophysical variables were analyzed using the suitability of mangroves for tourism, then water quality variables were analyzed using Pollution Index (PI), and location aspects were analyzed spatially using buffer method. The results of the potential of mangrove ecosystems for coastal tourism based on biophysical conditions and water quality obtained three zones that suitable to develop into tourism. Those zones are Maryamah-Tunut zone, Tarsip-Ci lamaya zone, and Cilamaya zone. Then based on spatial analysis using locational factors based on accessibility and distance from settlements, Tarsip-Ci lamaya zone and Ci Lamaya zone have the potential to be used as mangrove marine tourism. Besides those 2 zones area are suitable based on the biophysical conditions and water quality, the accessibility is quite good due to the main road is provided towards the ecosystem and also the distance from the settlement is in ideal distance, so that the ecosystem can be kept in good condition. Good accessibility and suitability mangrove ecosystem can increase the potential of the ecosystem to be used as coastal tourism.