Taking a leaf from Betawi community's book

Taking a leaf from Betawi community's book

Bambang Parlupi, Contributor, Jakarta

While ecologists busily strive to conserve forests in many
parts of the world, the remaining forested areas in Jakarta are
dwindling or vanishing altogether.

Take for example, the areas around the National Monument or
Senayan sports ground. These areas have virtually lost their open
space function. At present, waste and chemicals from commercial
fish farms are threatening the life of Muara Angke Wildlife
Conservation Area, North Jakarta, which is already in a poor
state.

Despite these heart-rending stories, we can still enjoy a
lush, green, forest in Cilandak, South Jakarta. The 40-hectare
forest, stretching for 18 kilometers along the banks of the
Pesanggrahan river, Lebak Bulus district, South Jakarta, is the
only one remaining.

Realizing the importance of forests, a conservation group,
Sangga Buana Farmers and the Living Environment, composed of
indigenous Betawi (Jakartan) farmers living along the riverbanks,
decided to take care of the forest 12 years ago.

"The idea of conserving the environment came up in the early
1990s, when I felt that the forests around the river were
seriously damaged," said head of the group Chairuddin, 47. He
added that at that time lots of trees along the banks had been
felled and developers of housing complexes in the district had
erected fences and walls along the riverbank.

For three years, he, along and 15 other members of the group,
struggled to salvage the remaining forest.

"Our first step was to regain the 40-hectare conservation
area. We had a battle with the developers over their smashing and
demolishing of walls and fences along the river," recalled the
father of two.

The first step the group undertook was termed "Saving what's
left of Jakarta." In 1994 they began to restore the forests by
replanting trees that had once been abundant in the district.

Once a week all group members assembled on the riverbank,
thinking about how to take care of the forest and who would do
it.

"We found seedlings from different corners of Jakarta and bred
them in a traditional way. We planted some 4,000 trees in the
first phase. Then we simply left them to grow naturally.

"As of now we have planted some 17,000 trees of different
species, including bamboo and oak, to provide a habitat for
birds. Afterwards we planted fruit trees, such as durian,
mangosteen and mango, and other trees that have medicinal
properties, which formerly grew in the area.

Warno, 35, an officer from the South Jakarta Agricultural
Office, said that many other groups followed suit. Almost every
month the local administration, students and environmental
activists take part in regreening activities in the area. He
added the local administration had contributed more than 3,000
trees for the forest.

A few years ago more than 100 city residents took part in the
planting of over 1,000 trees to regreen it.

The hard work earned the district a Kalpataru Award in 2000
from the central government.

"Under the theme, 'to make a better world', broadcast on a
private radio station, we appealed to the public to conserve the
environment through concrete action," Warno said.

State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim said the
efforts of Karang Tengah district residents should serve as an
example of how a community can join forces to save the
environment.

Currently, the area, which has a wide variety of plant
species, boasts some 17 bird species, plus mammals, reptiles and
monkeys.

Chairuddin said visitors must abide by the rules set by the
residents as the area has now become a tourist attraction in
South Jakarta. "We have forbidden anyone from felling trees,
hunting animals, starting fires or dumping garbage in the area."

The forest, which won an award from Dubai in February, has
also become an environmental study center.