Bogor's signature 'kenari' tree becoming scarce

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.