Menteng Green Map, discover the green 'gems'<\/p>\n
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Very few people are likely aware that a large rubber tree (Ficus
\nelastica) on the grounds of Jl. Lembang No. 37A is a sanctuary
\nfor wild birds in Jakarta, or that the trees in front of the
\nMenteng District Office at Jl. Pegangsaan Barat No. 14 are home
\nto squirrels.<\/p>\n
The Menteng area in Central Jakarta is one of the few
\nremaining green areas in this sprawling city, but only those
\ncrazy enough to walk the length and breadth of the area will
\nhave found the tiny lives hidden among the old trees.<\/p>\n
Well, thanks to 23 of these \"crazy\" people the rest of us can
\nnow enjoy these hidden treasures, which have been charted and
\nreleased as the Menteng Green Map.<\/p>\n
The Green Mappers, as they are called, mapped 102 sites in
\nMenteng and used 40 icons to identify them, including eco-
\ncultural sites, a fair trade shop, child-friendly eco-sites, bird
\nand wildlife watching sites, animal farms and bicycle sites.<\/p>\n
\"We spent Saturdays and Sundays walking at least three
\nkilometers a day searching for land sites,\" Ludiyanto Hasibuan, a
\ncoordinator of the Green Mappers, said during the map's launch at
\nthe GoetheHaus on Oct. 31.<\/p>\n
A Green Map charts places where nature and the world
\ninterconnect, using green map icons to locate different kinds of
\necologically and culturally significant sites, including toxic
\nhot spots.<\/p>\n
\"It's a new means of orientation, not just geographically,\"
\nGoethe Institut cultural program director Marla Stukenberg said
\nduring the launch.<\/p>\n
Long-time Menteng resident, historian Adolf Heuken SJ, said
\nthat Menteng's original purpose as a garden estate makes the area
\nideal for green mapping.<\/p>\n
\"Menteng was the first residential area to be specifically
\ndesigned (as a garden estate),\" he said, adding that he was
\nalways glad to be able to return to the leafy sanctuary of
\nMenteng after a day out in the city.<\/p>\n
Almost a century has passed since Menteng was developed in
\n1913, and while there are obvious signs of changes in the area,
\nmany streets and houses here still retain an old-world look.<\/p>\n
The Green Map's eco-spiritual site icon, picturing a face
\nbowing in submission, is attached to the As Sarodja mushalla
\n(small mosque), which was built in 1902 and still stands behind
\nJl. Jaksa No. 43.<\/p>\n
Traces of luxury can be found for those who look in the
\nbuilding of the 1938 Hotel Schomper at Jl. Menteng Raya No. 31,
\nnow the Museum Joang '45, which is given the icon for a museum
\nand historical feature.<\/p>\n
The icon of a bird on a branch, depicting a bird and wildlife
\nwatching site, is given to the park on the intersection of Jl.
\nSemarang and Jl. Pasuruan, which is home to many wild birds.<\/p>\n
Also included in the map is the Ciliwung River Green Map with
\nits 72 sites, created with the help of 13 people.<\/p>\n
\"The 72 icons along the river show that the area is very
\ndense, both in population and in variety of resources,\" Marco
\nKusumawijaya, initiator of the Green Map in Indonesia, said.<\/p>\n
The Green Map System was established in 1995 by Wendy Brawer,
\nbased on the success of what was considered the original Green
\nMap, New York City's Green Apple Map, created by Modern World
\nDesign in 1991.<\/p>\n
\"Green Maps illuminate the interconnections between society,
\nnature and the built environment, helping residents make lower
\nimpact lifestyle choices and discover great ways to get involved
\nin the urban ecology, and simultaneously guide visitors to
\nsuccessful initiatives they can replicate back home,\" the website
\nwww.greenmap.com said.<\/p>\n
To date there are 233 Green Map projects in 38 countries
\nacross the world, including 44 projects by young people.<\/p>\n
The first Green Map created for Indonesia was the Kemang Green
\nMap published in February 2002 as a centerfold for Aikon! by
\nMarco. A second edition and expanded version was launched early
\nthis year and included the Kebayoran Baru area and open spaces in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Other Indonesian Green Maps in progress are for the Mangga Dua
\narea and the Kota area in North Jakarta, Bukittinggi in West
\nSumatra, Malang in East Java, and Jero Benteng and Malioboro in
\nYogyakarta.<\/p>\n
For more information about Green Maps please contact Marco
\nKusumawijaya at marcokw@centrin.net.id, or Heni Wulandari at
\nheni_w@naver.co.id<\/p>",
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