Lack of green areas concerns new minister

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Forestry and Plantation Sumahadi expressed concern yesterday over the limited number of green areas in the city.

"Jakarta is supposed to have large areas dedicated to recreation and sports... but there are currently only a small number of open spaces and city forests available for residents to relax in and breath cleaner air.

He vowed to help create more green areas in the city.

Speaking at a regreening campaign ceremony held at Satya Gama University in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, Sumahadi said that the Ministry of Forestry and Plantation has invited 100 private universities throughout the city to plant trees in their grounds this year.

"The Jakarta office of the ministry is currently compiling data on the sites of all universities in the city."

Regreening will also take place on city-owned land, neglected areas and riverbanks.

During yesterday's event, Sumahadi, senior city officials and former cabinet ministers, including Wardoyo and Nani Soedarsono, planted saplings on the Satya Gama campus and handed over 1,000 food packages to nearby residents.

Some 419 trees have been planted in the Satya Gama University grounds. A further 2,000 saplings will be distributed among 100 private universities involved in the program.

Among the species planted are Angsana, Mahoni, Salam and other fruit trees.

Sumahadi said that the city's regreening campaign concentrated on the slum areas in North and East Jakarta last year.

This year, the program will spread to the West of Jakarta where there are many neglected plots of land which could be turned into green areas, he added.

Sumahadi expressed concern over damage inflicted on over 40 percent of the city's 25 hectare mangrove forest in Muara Angke, North Jakarta.

"The forest is not deteriorating alone..human actions are responsible.

"We must strive to save it. Mangrove forest is an essential part of the ecosystem," he said, adding that the forest is now under the care of the state-owned Perhutani forestry company.

Head of the Ministry of Forestry and Plantation's city office Purwadi Mangunwardoyo said the mangrove forest had been damaged by pollution from the waste discharged by the 13 rivers which run through Jakarta.

"We have planted 10,000 mangrove seedlings over the last three years, but more than 50 percent of them have died," he said.

Mangrove forests prevent coastal erosion and salt water encroachment into fresh water supplies, he said.

Purwadi said that ideally, the mangrove forest belt should cover the ground for 200 meters back from the coastline.

"The existing belt is on average only 40 meters wide. I know it is far from ideal," he said. (edt/ind)