Large trees become scarce, survey says<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Only 12 large trees, each measuring more than
\n5.4 meters in diameter, are left in Jakarta out of the capital's
\nestimated 4.5 million trees, latest data from the city Parks
\nOffice has indicated.<\/p>\n
Results from a survey to identify Jakarta's largest trees,
\nconducted by the city Parks Agency, show that a tree with a
\ndiameter of 17.5 meters can still be found in front of Bank BRI's
\noffices on Jl. Oto Iskandardinata 72, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Other large trees, as announced by Berita Jakarta, the city
\nadministration's official website, are located at Petojo Primary
\nSchool in Central Jakarta (6.65 m in diameter), at Merdeka Palace
\nin Central Jakarta (11 m, 6.3 m and 5.4 m), in Cempaka Putih
\nTengah area, Central Jakarta (12 m), on Jl. Wahid Hasyim, Central
\nJakarta (5.6 m), on the grounds of Fatmawati Hospital, South
\nJakarta (10.6 m) and Koja Hospital in North Jakarta (8.4 m).<\/p>\n
Head of the city Parks Agency Dadang Ruskandar said a lot more
\ntrees could have been saved if the city administration had
\nprotected them much earlier and prevented illegal felling, which
\ncurrently proceeds at a rate of 10 trees felled per day.<\/p>\n
Central Jakarta municipality last year threatened to sue Bank
\nIndonesia for felling a large tree beside its headquarters, but
\nthe case was finally settled as the bank paid compensation and
\nplanted another tree.<\/p>\n
The local government is now preparing a bylaw concerning the
\nprotection and insurance of trees in the city.<\/p>\n
\"Illegal felling of all trees must not recur. Tree
\nregistration is now carried out in phases to monitor their
\nnumber,\" added Dadang.<\/p>\n
While imposing fines on those cutting down trees without
\npermission, the bylaw will also stipulate compensation for
\nresidents injured by felled trees.<\/p>\n
The city administration hopes that the bylaw can encourage a
\ngrowth in the number of trees in the city to 10.5 million by
\n2007.<\/p>\n
The government also plans to build more public parks to expand
\nthe green areas from 6.5 percent of the total area of Jakarta, or
\n177.29 square meters, to 13 percent of the area by 2007.(arp)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/large-trees-become-scarce-survey-says-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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