Groups push for 'green' reconstruction
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Worried by a number of reckless reconstruction projects in tsunami-ravaged Aceh, a group of environmental organizations are planning this month to join forces with the local administration and the office of the state minister for the environment to ensure environmentally friendly rebuilding works in the province.
"All parties involved in Aceh reconstruction will be able to opt for alternative ways of building that are more environmentally friendly and sustainable," conference organizer Acehkita foundation chairwoman Smita Notosusanto told a press briefing on Tuesday.
Flora Fauna Indonesia's Frank Momberg reported that a number of cases of reconstruction of houses were found to have involved the use of illegal timber.
"There were, in fact, pressures exerted on NGOs involved in the process that gave them no time for strategic thinking on how to best rebuild the area," he said. "There has been no coordination to conduct sustainable development."
Momberg said he hopes the Green Conference and Expo, scheduled for June 21 through June 28 at Syiah Kuala University in Banda Aceh, would be a market place of ideas to give practical information and guidelines to all stakeholders.
The convention will deal with seven environment-related topics: spatial planning; settlement and infrastructure building; housing and building materials; coastal and fisheries matters; forestry and agriculture; waste, water and sanitation issues, as well as community participation.
Discussions will range from technical details, such as options for the use of various building materials from leftover debris, forest management and protection, and the adoption of local wisdom in planning the reconstruction.
The outcome of the conference, which involves state officials, community organizations and the private sector, will be compiled into a legally binding reconstruction manual and made into a local law, said a representative from Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam provincial development agency, Arsyiah Arsyad.
"We will follow it up by taking smaller-scale models of the event to West Aceh, Aceh Jaya and Nagan Raya for familiarization among the community," Smita added.
The devastating Dec. 26 tsunami, triggered by a huge earthquake, left more than 200,000 dead in Aceh and more than half a million others homeless, forcing them to live in emergency shelters.
"It is true that current conditions are pressing people there to rebuild their homes immediately, but it must be done properly," environment ministry official Henri Bastaman said.
He added that there were possibilities to compensate tsunami victims who have already rebuilt their homes by themselves but failed to meet environmental guidelines. (003)