Bogor Regency Government Highlights Damage on Mount Salak, Plans to Clear Illegal Buildings

The Bogor Regency Government (Pemkab Bogor) is highlighting the declining land function in the Mount Salak area. It is urging the public to help save the mountain before the damage becomes widespread. “I remind you, the main thing is to save the foothills of Mount Salak, save Mount Salak, because it is not only about oxygen interests, clean water interests, the need for reforestation on Mount Salak, the world also needs Mount Salak. Even the world needs Mount Salak,” said Bogor Deputy Regent Ade Ruhandi, also known as Jaro Ade, on Tuesday. “Whoever damages the Mount Salak area in any way, with irresponsible hands, just wait for the consequences,” he added. According to him, protecting Mount Salak is a shared responsibility. He has asked factions within the Bogor Regency DPRD commission to assist him, particularly concerning mountains in the Cijeruk and Cigombong areas. One focus is the clearing of illegal buildings. “And going forward, clearing the area of illegal buildings on Mount Salak indeed requires collaboration between the regional government, the province, and the central government,” he stated. He has also invited the private sector to do the same. According to him, the private sector has supported what the Bogor Regency Government wants. “And more importantly, those that have already become infrastructure, schools, pesantren, majlis, everything has been agreed upon, including what have become community houses, those will be removed,” he revealed. He acknowledged that the clean-up and rescue efforts on Mount Salak cannot be done by one party alone, hence the need for collaboration from various stakeholders. “Clearing the Mount Salak area for environmental preservation cannot be done alone. We must collaborate with the Provincial Government of West Java, with the Governor, and the central government,” he said. His party appreciates the central government for helping to protect the Mount Salak area. Mapping of cultivated land permits will also be carried out in the future. “The main thing is we will sort it out, because in the Mount Salak area there are quite a lot of people controlling cultivated land who are building, whether they have permits or not, because their land tenure rights must be clear, in accordance with the regulations,” he concluded.