Large trees become scarce in Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): Only 12 large trees, each measuring more than 5.4 meters in diameter, are left in Jakarta out of the capital's estimated 4.5 million trees, latest data from the city Parks Office has indicated.

Results from a survey to identify Jakarta's largest trees, conducted by the city Parks Agency, show that a tree with a diameter of 17.5 meters can still be found in front of Bank BRI's offices on Jl. Oto Iskandardinata 72, East Jakarta.

Other large trees, as announced by Berita Jakarta, the city administration's official website, are located at Petojo Primary School in Central Jakarta (6.65 m in diameter), at Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta (11 m, 6.3 m and 5.4 m), in Cempaka Putih Tengah area, Central Jakarta (12 m), on Jl. Wahid Hasyim, Central Jakarta (5.6 m), on the grounds of Fatmawati Hospital, South Jakarta (10.6 m) and Koja Hospital in North Jakarta (8.4 m).

Head of the city Parks Agency Dadang Ruskandar said a lot more trees could have been saved if the city administration had protected them much earlier and prevented illegal felling, which currently proceeds at a rate of 10 trees felled per day.

Central Jakarta municipality last year threatened to sue Bank Indonesia for felling a large tree beside its headquarters, but the case was finally settled as the bank paid compensation and planted another tree.

The local government is now preparing a bylaw concerning the protection and insurance of trees in the city.

"Illegal felling of all trees must not recur. Tree registration is now carried out in phases to monitor their number," added Dadang.

While imposing fines on those cutting down trees without permission, the bylaw will also stipulate compensation for residents injured by felled trees.

The city administration hopes that the bylaw can encourage a growth in the number of trees in the city to 10.5 million by 2007.(arp)