Groups push for 'green' reconstruction

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)