Expert calls for better Bogor town planning
Expert calls for better Bogor town planning
BOGOR, West Java (JP): Director of the Botanical Gardens,
Suhirman, has called for better town planning with more emphasis
on the Botanical Gardens as a scientific domain with historical
value.
He said Saturday that the development of Bogor should support
the gardens' existence. The gardens should be taken into account
in the master planning of the town, he said.
"But what is happening is the opposite. They are trying to
adjust the Botanical Gardens to the development of the town,"
Suhirman told The Jakarta Post after launching the Botanical
Gardens Clean Campaign.
The campaign, held in coordination with the Bogor Rotary Club
and Friends of the Indonesian Botanical Gardens, was launched at
the Botanical Gardens in conjunction with its 179th anniversary.
Suhirman said that the Bogor administration is considering
moving the main gate of the 87-hectare Botanical Gardens to the
other side of the gardens to ease traffic. Opposing the idea, he
said that moving the gate would not solve the problem.
"What we need is a sound master plan," he said.
"There should be open spaces surrounding the Botanical
Gardens. But you see, they built the Internusa shopping center
and the Bogor market...," he added.
The shopping center and the market, which are located opposite
the gardens, are apparently the main sources of traffic
congestion in the area.
The Bogor Botanic Gardens is home to about 4,500 species of
flora. More than 100 of the plants are over 100 years old,
according to the gardens' chief of science department, Sukendar.
About 1.5 million people visit the gardens every year,
Suhirman said. However, most people are unaware that the
Botanical Gardens is a scientific center with historical value,
he added.
The Botanical Gardens was established on May 18, 1817, by
German botanist C.G.C. Reinwardt for scientific purpose.
"The place is more than a garden. If we compared it with the
Mekar Sari fruit garden (in Cileungsi, West Java), I should say
that both of them are wonderful. But the Botanical Gardens has
more historical value," Suhirman said.
Director of the institute, Soefjan Tsauri, said in a written
statement that the fast population growth, development and the
felling of forests pose big challenges to flora conservation.
He encouraged Botanical Garden employees not to worry about
the challenge but to see it as an opportunity to dedicate
themselves more.
The Botanical Gardens Clean Campaign was launched to educate
visitors through songs and entertainment about environmental
cleanliness. On Saturday, a short play about Mr. Clean and Trash
Worm was performed. Entertainer Henny Purwonegoro and Bina
Vokalia choir also presented a number of songs with an
environmental theme.
New trash bins were also installed in the Botanical Gardens.
Mr. Clean and Trash Worm, as well as the theme song Tong
Sampah (Rubbish Bin), were created exclusively for the campaign.
Mr. Clean and Trash Worm will be at the gardens among visitors
every Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.
The entrance fee to the gardens is Rp 1,000 (40 U.S. cents).
Suhirman said that the management is planning to charge
foreign tourists more because they have a higher standard of
living. (sim)
BOGOR, West Java (JP): Director of the Botanical Gardens,
Suhirman, has called for better town planning with more emphasis
on the Botanical Gardens as a scientific domain with historical
value.
He said Saturday that the development of Bogor should support
the gardens' existence. The gardens should be taken into account
in the master planning of the town, he said.
"But what is happening is the opposite. They are trying to
adjust the Botanical Gardens to the development of the town,"
Suhirman told The Jakarta Post after launching the Botanical
Gardens Clean Campaign.
The campaign, held in coordination with the Bogor Rotary Club
and Friends of the Indonesian Botanical Gardens, was launched at
the Botanical Gardens in conjunction with its 179th anniversary.
Suhirman said that the Bogor administration is considering
moving the main gate of the 87-hectare Botanical Gardens to the
other side of the gardens to ease traffic. Opposing the idea, he
said that moving the gate would not solve the problem.
"What we need is a sound master plan," he said.
"There should be open spaces surrounding the Botanical
Gardens. But you see, they built the Internusa shopping center
and the Bogor market...," he added.
The shopping center and the market, which are located opposite
the gardens, are apparently the main sources of traffic
congestion in the area.
The Bogor Botanic Gardens is home to about 4,500 species of
flora. More than 100 of the plants are over 100 years old,
according to the gardens' chief of science department, Sukendar.
About 1.5 million people visit the gardens every year,
Suhirman said. However, most people are unaware that the
Botanical Gardens is a scientific center with historical value,
he added.
The Botanical Gardens was established on May 18, 1817, by
German botanist C.G.C. Reinwardt for scientific purpose.
"The place is more than a garden. If we compared it with the
Mekar Sari fruit garden (in Cileungsi, West Java), I should say
that both of them are wonderful. But the Botanical Gardens has
more historical value," Suhirman said.
Director of the institute, Soefjan Tsauri, said in a written
statement that the fast population growth, development and the
felling of forests pose big challenges to flora conservation.
He encouraged Botanical Garden employees not to worry about
the challenge but to see it as an opportunity to dedicate
themselves more.
The Botanical Gardens Clean Campaign was launched to educate
visitors through songs and entertainment about environmental
cleanliness. On Saturday, a short play about Mr. Clean and Trash
Worm was performed. Entertainer Henny Purwonegoro and Bina
Vokalia choir also presented a number of songs with an
environmental theme.
New trash bins were also installed in the Botanical Gardens.
Mr. Clean and Trash Worm, as well as the theme song Tong
Sampah (Rubbish Bin), were created exclusively for the campaign.
Mr. Clean and Trash Worm will be at the gardens among visitors
every Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.
The entrance fee to the gardens is Rp 1,000 (40 U.S. cents).
Suhirman said that the management is planning to charge
foreign tourists more because they have a higher standard of
living. (sim)