What they say about the city regreening program

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)