Botanical Gardens raises environmental awareness<\/p>\n
By Yudha Kartohadiprodjo<\/p>\n
BOGOR, West Java (JP): In the middle of Bogor Botanical
\nGardens, on the banks of a pond filled with gigantic water lily,
\na small group of high school students were holding a discussion
\non the impact of the greenhouse effect on the environment.<\/p>\n
A few hours earlier, on the other side of the gardens, a group
\nof kindergartners was coloring a picture of a bat in an
\ninformation package handed out to them after they had sneaked a
\npeek at the nocturnal animal through binoculars.<\/p>\n
They were participating in an Environmental and Biodiversity
\nRoute (Repling) program organized by the Indonesian Institute for
\nForest and Environment (RMI), in cooperation with Indonesian
\nBotanical Gardens and grants from PT Van Melle Indonesia.<\/p>\n
With a goal of increasing public awareness on environmental
\nand biodiversity conservation, the program's mission is to
\neducate younger generations on environmental issues. RMI focused
\nthe program on students ranging from kindergartners through
\ncollege students.<\/p>\n
"By giving understanding and awareness of environmental and
\nbiodiversity conservation, it is expected that they (the younger
\ngeneration) will become the new conservationists." said RMI's
\nvice chairwoman, Latifah Hendarti.<\/p>\n
But the program is open to the anyone who would like to learn
\nmore of the environment.<\/p>\n
"Recently, we accommodate a group of teachers who had just
\nfinished an environmental-related seminar in Bogor. It is never
\ntoo late to learn more about the environment we live in," she
\nadded<\/p>\n
The program ranges from two hours to three hours, following
\nroutes that correspond with the theme participants choose. Themes
\noffered by the program include biodiversity, medicinal plants,
\nforest and wetland ecosystems and the function of wildlife. Each
\npresentation's depth is tailored to the level of education as
\nwell the intention of the participants.<\/p>\n
Programs for kindergartners, for example, concentrate on
\nedutainment: by introducing environmental topics through fun and
\nentertaining games.<\/p>\n
College students, however, will be presented with more
\nsophisticated issues on the environment, such as pollution and
\ndeforestation. Dendrology techniques, a scientific study of
\ntrees, may also be introduced.<\/p>\n
Families on vacation will be able to choose a diluted program
\nwith a reduced load.<\/p>\n
Throughout a path, an RMI facilitator will hold interactive
\ndiscussions, pointing out the gardens' rich and distinctive
\ncollections, while enticing the participants' awareness with
\ncontemporary environmental issues through discussions, folk
\nstories and simulations.<\/p>\n
Facilitators encourage participants to ask questions and state
\ntheir opinions. Through active interactions, RMI hopes to
\nintroduce a taste of democratic education to Repling
\nparticipants.<\/p>\n
"We realize the current formal education system in Indonesia
\ndoes not accommodate two-way communication between students and
\nteachers. We would like to excite these kids to ask questions, to
\nstate their opinion, to realize that being different is not
\nwrong. In short: to be critical," Latifah explained.<\/p>\n
Through rigorous training, the facilitators are meant to be
\nthe learning partner of participants. "The program is not meant
\nto force knowledge into the head of participants. It is meant to
\nprovide a pleasant learning experience," she added.<\/p>\n
The facilitators are paid volunteers selected from a pool of
\napplicants with various backgrounds. "Currently we have students,
\nteachers and even housewives as our facilitators," said program
\ncoordinator Mia Juniati.<\/p>\n
Every month, facilitators will go through an evaluation
\nprogram, while discussions on topics such as education, the
\nenvironment and other related fields are regularly held to keep
\nthem up to date.<\/p>\n
Repling's interactive method has proven to be very useful.
\nDiah, a former Repling participant who enrolled in its English
\nprogram a year ago, said: "Interaction from the facilitator
\nsomehow made me remember more of the program. It is more useful
\nthan just pointing out to us that this is tree A, this is plant
\nB. It is more interesting, and fun."<\/p>\n
For student groups, the program costs Rp 2,800 per student,
\nwith a minimum of three groups and a maximum of eight people in a
\ngroup. The general public is charged between Rp 8,000 and Rp
\n11,000, depending on the size of each group. A family package
\ncosts Rp 28,000. The fee covers admission to the garden, a
\nfacilitator and an information package containing valuable
\nenvironmental knowledge. English-speaking facilitators are also
\navailable on request.<\/p>\n
So far, 8,000 people have joined the program.<\/p>\n
Founded six years ago by seven environmental student-
\nactivists from Bogor Agricultural Institute, RMI's mission is to
\nfoster natural resource conservation in Indonesia by developing
\nstudies and field programs related to protection preservation and
\nthrough utilization of natural resources for prosperity of the
\ncommunity.<\/p>\n
RMI currently holds environmental education programs in two
\nother locations besides Bogor: in Yanlappa Nature Reserve, Tenjo
\nsubdistrict, West Java, and in Eka Karya Botanical Gardens, Bali.
\nThe programs are designed to expose the distinctive features and
\ncharacteristics of each botanical garden.<\/p>\n
The Repling program in Eka Karya Botanical Gardens offers a
\nTraditional Ceremonial Plant Route. As participants walk through
\nthe forest, a guide narrates folk stories related to environment
\nissues as well as the use of native plants in Balinese religious
\nceremonies.<\/p>\n
Besides Repling, RMI regularly holds environmentally related
\nseminars open to the public and has organized Siklus, a radio
\ntalk show on environmental issues. It also provides an
\necolandscaping service for companies and individuals interested
\nin earth-friendly landscaping.<\/p>\n
Bogor Botanical Gardens is one of the oldest botanical gardens
\nin the world. Located in the center of Bogor, a cool, hilly town
\nan hour's car drive away from Jakarta, the garden has a vast
\ncollection of 3,504 plant species within its 87 hectares. The
\ngarden was founded in 1817 by Dr. Caspar G.C. Reinwardt, a
\nGerman-born botanist.<\/p>\n
Environmental education like Repling could be a neat
\nalternative for students currently on holiday. It provides an
\neducating and entertaining yet affordable program.<\/p>\n
Those interested may contact RMI at Jl. Sempur 64, Bogor.
\nPhone number: (0251) 320647.<\/p>",
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