Bogor botanical Gardens under threat from business

Bogor botanical Gardens under threat from business

BOGOR, West Java (JP): The potential economic value of the
Botanical Gardens in Bogor is a major threat to the gardens, an
environmentalist has said.

Otto Soemarwoto of Bandung's Padjadjaran University said
Saturday those who love the gardens must immediately join hands
to save it in case of narrow-minded business interests.

Many businesspeople "must be leering at the gardens for the
construction of malls, hotels and recreations centers", the
professor said at a one-day discussion on the gardens.

The talk was titled Haruskah Generasi Penerus Kehilangan Kebun
Raya Bogor? (Must the Young Generation Lose the Bogor Botanical
Gardens?)

It was held by Lovers of the Botanical Gardens at the Bogor
Institute of Agriculture.

Earlier, the gardens' director Suhirman called for better town
planning with more emphasis on the gardens' scientific and
historical value. The gardens are 179 years old, and were
established May 18, 1817 for scientific purposes by German
botanist C.G.C. Reinwardt.

Suhirman said the opposite is now happening, as development
tries to make the gardens adjust.

The gardens cover 80 hectares and must be of high value since
they are in the heart of Bogor, Otto said.

But the threat of appropriation for commercial interests could
be avoided if love of the gardens was more widespread, said Otto,
who teaches at the university.

"Such a love would grow with more knowledge of what the
gardens mean ...," Otto said.

He said the Pasar Minggu gardens in South Jakarta were meant
to be a collection center of various plants, but the collection
has largely been swallowed up by surrounding buildings of the
Ministry of Agriculture, he said.

Other threats to the gardens are floods, air pollution and
increased temperatures, Otto said.

Effendy A. Sumardja of the State Ministry of Environment said
air pollution comes from industrial activity and increasingly
heavy traffic.

"All parties need to maintain the gardens," given the gardens'
importance to research, recreation and education, Effendy said.

Otto said the increase of construction activities along the
Ciliwung River, which flows through the gardens, has led to less
forests and agricultural land.

This could lead to the river overflowing, which would endanger
visitors, Otto said.

He said the gardens' ponds have also become polluted from
water from markets, factories and dense residential areas.

To overcome the problem, traffic should be decreased by making
walking or cycling attractive around the gardens, he said.

Otto said areas free of motorized vehicles have proved very
popular for domestic and foreign tourists.

"There is no need to fear business will drop, on the other
hand it should increase," he said.

Effendy said the gardens are known as the origin of many
valuable plants in Southeast Asia. It houses about 4,500 species
of flora. (24/anr)