Action imperative<\/p>\n
At last it seems that the voices of concern over the
\ncontinuing willful destruction of our living environment are
\nbeing been heard. Bapedal, which is the government's
\nEnvironmental Impact Management Board, made a strong statement
\npublic a couple of days ago. It is calling for a halt to the
\nconstruction of a golf course on Bira Besar Island in the Seribu
\nIsland group and the restoration of the islands' natural
\nenvironmental conditions.<\/p>\n
As was widely reported earlier this week, extensive tracts of
\nwoodland and coral beds have been destroyed on the 30-hectare
\n(45-acre) island just outside of Jakarta Bay over the past few
\nmonths to make way for a nine-hole golf course, complete with
\nclubhouse and luxury cottages.<\/p>\n
Although work on the golf course and its supporting facilities
\nand infrastructure is reported to have started last year, public
\nconcern over the fate of the island and its marine surroundings
\nbegan to spread only after the Indonesian Environmental Forum,
\nWalhi, started investigating the project and found that it was
\ncarried out in disregard of any proper environmental
\nconsiderations.<\/p>\n
Apparently, the proposal for the construction of the golf
\ncourse on Bira Besar Island by PT Pulau Seribu Paradise was
\nsubmitted to the Jakarta municipal administration last year.
\nHowever, the Walhi report states that the authorities were
\nreportedly still working on the required AMDAL environmental
\nimpact assessment papers for the project, when it was found that
\nthe golf course was already practically completed.<\/p>\n
The reports says that as a result the island has been stripped
\nof its original vegetation cover and the former woodlands
\nreplaced by manicured grass. Only bits of the original vegetation
\nare left along the beaches. Nor has the island's surrounding
\nmarine environment been spared. Sand was quarried and coral beds
\ndestroyed to obtain construction material. Although no accurate
\nestimate as to the full extent of the damage has as yet been
\nmade, much of the natural habitat of fish and the other creatures
\nthat live around coral reefs have been devastated.<\/p>\n
At this point, as the Walhi report also notes, there is, of
\ncourse, little use for the issuance of even a favorable AMDAL
\nenvironmental feasibility assessment, since the project is as
\ngood as completed. Nevertheless, Bapedal's statement comes as a
\nrelief, even though it may be difficult to see how it will be
\npossible for the developer, PT Pulau Seribu Paradise, to restore
\nthe island to its original conditions, as Bapedal is demanding.
\nAt best, what the developers can do is to cooperate and suspend
\nany further construction until the proper papers are obtained,
\nwhile doing what it can to restore the island's natural
\nenvironment -- which obviously is not a short-term assignment.<\/p>\n
What is most gratifying in this case is the stand which the
\nauthorities in charge seem to be taking about the matter.
\nMinister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, in a separate
\nstatement, said that he has assigned his staff to assist the
\nJakarta municipal authorities to solve the problem. \"In the
\nmeantime, I suggest that people don't play golf there,\" he said.<\/p>\n
With the frequent reports that are circulating about the
\nwillful destruction of our environment, it is certainly time that
\nwe all take a firm stand against such offenses.<\/p>\n
As Indonesians, who are naturally disinclined to speak out, we
\nhave perhaps in the past tended to be too forgiving toward
\noffenders in such matters. But unless firm measures are taken
\nnow, we are afraid that more and more unprincipled individuals
\nwill be tempted to make use of this habit, to the harm of the
\nmajority of Indonesians.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/action-imperative-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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