Bogor's signature 'kenari' tree becoming scarce

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

The kenari tree has long been a symbol of Bogor municipality. However, it is sad to see that these trees can be found only on certain streets in the city now, such as in Jl. A. Yani and Jl. Semeru because kenari seedlings are hard to obtain and kenari trees are difficult to look after.

Large kenari trees (Canarium decumanum) and ordinary/small kenari trees (Canarium commune) are two species that have been declared symbols of Bogor municipality.

The Bogor municipality has named the kenari tree and the Axis- axis deer as a city symbol.

In reality, however, these two tree species, particularly Canarium decumanum, are quite rare now. The only street where you can still find the leafy kenari trees on both sides is Jl. A Yani, on the only section remaining from what was Daendels Road (Groote Post Weg), which has not changed much since the Dutch era.

The other sections of Daendels Road, Jl. Juanda and Jl. Suryakencana have changed considerably as they are full of buildings and shops.

Even on Jl. Kapten Muslihat in downtown Bogor, only four kenari trees remain, located precisely in front of the cathedral. Likewise, only part of Jl. Semeru is still shaded by the leafy trees.

Wawan Krisniawan, chief of regreening and seedling section of Bogor municipality's city planning and landscaping service, said "We are trying to plant both types of kenari tree on Jl. Cifor, Jl. Veteran, Jl. Sudirman,l. Jl. R.E. Martadinata and Jl. Sudirman".

Although the Bogor municipal administration has named the kenari tree as the city's symbol, the trees need special nurturing.

It is now difficult to obtain a young kenari tree three meters tall. When a tree reaches a height of 7m to 10m, it needs extra care. Meanwhile, the municipality of Bogor needs these trees to alleviate pollution.

Therefore, aside from planting kenari trees, Bogor municipality's planning and landscaping service has also planted other trees in, for example, Jl. Salak and around Taman Kencana, where you can find aromatic tanjung trees.

Mahogany trees have also been planted along Jl. Padjajaran as far as Warung Jambu. Along Jl. Juanda you can find both tanjung trees and a few kenari trees. Tanjung trees are also planted along Jl. Jalak Harupat or the rise leading to the Bogor Palace.

Old kenari trees -- about 80 years old -- can still be seen around Taman Kencana, Jl. A. Yani and in part of Jl. Semeru.

At present, the municipality's city planning service is intensifying the replacement of kenari trees that have fallen with young ones. They have also patched the hollowed-out parts of kenari trees with a cement mixture.

These holes are the result not only of disease but also human activity. Quite a few people have peeled off the bark of the trees while others have poured gasoline on the trees, hoping that they will dry out and die.

"If the trees die, they can erect food stalls where the dead kenari trees used to stand. Human actions have considerably damaged the environment," said Wawan.

Meanwhile, head of the forest management department in the school of forestry at Bogor Institute of Agriculture, Irdika Mansyur, said that the kenari trees currently found in Bogor were mostly planted during the Dutch colonial era. The trees, he noted, shade the roads well.

Given the importance of the trees to the city, Bogor should be committed to planting more of them. Housing estates and government office compounds must be required to plant them so that Bogor will become home to the largest and most complete collection of kenari trees in Indonesia.

Unfortunately, many Bogor residents do not know that the kenari tree is a city symbol. That is why the public, including school and university students, must be involved in regreening activities, in which kenari trees are planted.

The public must be introduced to these trees and a sense of ownership should be fostered within the Bogor community so that they will protect them.

Kenari trees can be used for many purposes. Kenari nuts can be carved to produce souvenirs. The shells of the fruit of Canarium decumanum can be used as a form of charcoal. Kenari nuts, sometimes called a Dutch almond, taste like something between a pecan and an almond.

Meanwhile, Adjam, a maker of souvenirs made of wood and kenarinuts whose shop is located in Taman topi, Jl. Kapten Muslihat, said that Canarium decumanum fruit were no longer available because the trees no longer existed, except in the Botanical Garden.

"If we need the fruit of Canarium decumanum, we have to go to the Botanical Garden to collect it. The fruit of ordinary kenari trees can still be found readily along Jl. A. Yani, Jl. Semeru or in front of the cathedral," Adjam said.

The carved nut of the ordinary kenari can be used as a keyholder. They cost about Rp 2,000.

On the other hand, a keyholder made from Canarium decumanum, which is larger and also very difficult to find, costs Rp 4,000.