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)