JAKARTA, June 2 (Reuters) - Tourists in Indonesia are discovering the benefits of mangroves as the archipelago pushes to replant or conserve carbon-rich coastal areas that have been decimated by human activity. Last year alone, the country lost 700,000 hectares of mangroves, according to Indonesia's Mangrove and Peatlands Restoration Agency (BRGM). "A lot of people and businesses have these mangrove forests levelled down and then build a tourist spot above it by piling sand to make artificial beaches. That contradicts nature preservation," said Muhammad Saleh Alatas, owner of The Mangrove Paddling Centre, which organises tours in the mangroves of Jakarta. Reporting by Tommy Ardiansyah, Johan Purnomo, Zahra Matarani; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor and Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Persons: Connie Sihombing, I've, Muhammad Saleh Alatas, Muhammad Ilman, Tommy Ardiansyah, Johan Purnomo, Zahra Matarani, Kanupriya Kapoor, Emelia Organizations: Restoration Agency, Nusantara Nature Conservation Agency, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, Jakarta