What they say about the city regreening program

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta's regreening program -- dubbed the One Million Tree Movement -- is still going on. It is not an instant job. Authorities say beautiful public parks and urban forests will not be seen for at least another five years.

Some say the campaign, launched by Governor Surjadi Soedirdja in 1993, has achieved significant results while others see it as a good idea which needs improvement.

The Jakarta Post interviewed several people about the movement and the status of Jakarta's parks and urban forests.

This is what they said:

Yuswadi Saliya, a lecturer at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in West Java, who was once involved in the Monas urban forest development project: "The capital has seen a lot of improvement. More big trees are seen on main roads. The parks have been very well treated, allowing flowers to bloom happily. However, there are still many pot plants put on roadsides which not only disturb passers-by but don't match with the height of the skyscrapers. The use of pots, normally used in Japanese gardening, doesn't work a big city like Jakarta. Jakarta needs an urban landscape design. The other thing is the urgent need for small plants to be planted next to the big trees to prevent them being blown down in storms."

Dimmy Haryanto, House member from Commission IV for Agriculture, Forestry and Transmigration, Indonesian Democratic Party faction: "City forests are badly needed, especially as Jakarta's pollution seems to be getting worse. We need more plants to act as the city's lungs.

I think the city's development has not been balanced enough with regreening programs.

I fully support the government's One Million Tree Movement. In fact, I think developers must set aside a certain amount of their land to be developed as green areas.

Although I appreciate what Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has done for Jakarta through the program, I think much has yet to be done. Green areas have not been increasing at the same rate as high- rise buildings."

Hamonangan Togatorop, a property firm's general affairs manager: "We have to copy the environmental programs that have been successful in other big cities like Tokyo. In that city the government requires all high-rise building operators to build their own gardens on top of their buildings or in their buildings. This is something that can be done if we cannot develop city forests.

I agree with the idea of developing city forests. But we have to make sure that such an environmental program is not pursued by forcing people to move.

Maybe we can start the program by planting trees along both sides of rivers in Jakarta.

But I think the city forest program alone is not enough to clean Jakarta's air. We should also try to reduce pollution by reducing carbon dioxide emissions from cars and encouraging people to use more gas than fuel oil."

Putri Wong Kam Fu, an East Java-based (Malang) soothsayer, and regular visitor to Jakarta: "Jakarta is Jakarta. It's hot and crowded. No one will be able to change the image of this metropolis. There's no place for trees because land is a luxury good here. Let's see Jakarta from an airplane to prove my remarks; to see whether the skyscrapers and buildings occupy the largest part of the capital. So, Jakarta is still Jakarta. It couldn't be as green as my hometown, where the air is always fresh and clean. But the municipality's massive effort to plant more trees in Jakarta is very much welcomed. It helps minimize the polluted air, water and land."

Sutini, a maid living in a housing complex: "Trees might be good to human beings but not for people like me. Years ago this complex was full of rubber trees which gave me nothing. But now, after the trees were cut down, I can earn enough money because the area is now the home of many people, and I work in these homes."

Rika Sartika Dewi L., a public relations officer: "I think we need city forests in Jakarta to function as the city's lungs. We can copy the concept of Kebon Raya Bogor in Bogor, West Java.

We have to make sure there are trees. But of course, we should not only focus on their environmental function. We can also make productive forests.

In addition, the government should require all developers to develop parks in their estates and high-rise buildings.

The government should also pursue an intensive campaign to encourage the public to plant at least two trees in their houses."

Syamsuddin Abbas, a senior Ministry of Agriculture official: "Of course city forests are necessary. Not only are green belts a source of oxygen, they also are also a relief to the eyes, especially after we see is tall, concrete buildings all day.

Whether or not there are enough trees in Jakarta really depends on where you live. The Kota area (in West Jakarta), for example, really lacks trees. But around where I live, in Pasar Minggu (in South Jakarta), I think there are quite enough trees.

In fact, I think one of my trees is shedding too many leaves." (bsr/bnt/pwn)