Jakarta's city forests

City to build City Forest in Pondoklabu
beritajakarta.com 11 Dec 09;

Due to realize the target of green space by 30 percent, the Jakarta City Administration has lot of program to be run. One of them is buying land about 2.02 ha on Jl Pinang II, Pondok Labu, Cilandak, South Jakarta by allocating Rp 26.556 billion. The land will be changed into Pondok Labu City Forest and sport center for local people.

Jakarta Dept. of Maritime and Agriculture will buy the land based on land owner agreement especially for the price by Rp 1.3 million per meter square. The value is lower than local value tax of property (NJOP) by Rp 1.416 million per meter square. The land is consisting of 13 lots and owned by four people.

Those land owners are Novian Prasetya who has one lot by 1,229 meter square and he gets compensation Rp 1.597 billion. Next is Sulistyo Rahardjo by two lots about 1,080 meter square and 3,600 meter square and he gets compensation Rp 6.084 billion, Nevita Maysarah by five lots; 1,040 meter square, 403 meter square, 2,100 meter square, 367 meter square, and 1.500 meter square. She gets compensation Rp 7.330 billion. Last is Sutarminah by five lots; 2,750 meter square, 100 meter square, 1,781 meter square, 2,000 meter square and 2,250 meter square. She gets compensation Rp 11.545 billion.

Desman Sitorus for Forestry Division said total of compensation for 2.02 ha of land is Rp 26.556 billion and will be paid via DKI Bank. “They have agreed to receive the payment in DKI Bank. It is faster and safer than paying in cash,” Sitorus said, Friday (12/11).

The land buying process for Pondok Labu City Forest is one of dedicated programs from Jakarta DKP instructed by Jakarta Governor Fauzi bowo. The program is aimed to improve the environmental conditions of Jakarta globally, and also realizing the Act No 26/2007 about Spatial Planning which expressed that local government must prepare 30 percent for green space.

“We will build city forest there. At this time, the agency only has 14 city forests in five Jakarta administration areas,” he added.

In 2010, the land will be fenced with iron fence and planted around 5 thousand trees. Plant species will be planted are mahogany, Trembesi, buni and some rare trees that have grown old. Jogging track will be also built there. According to him, the agency has allocated Rp 3 billion as the project development in 2010 city budget.

Meanwhile, Aswin Saragih for South Jakarta Sub-Dept. of Forestry explained the land buying process in Pondok Labu is based on Determination Principle Approval Letter Location of Jakarta Governor No.1728/-1.795.222 on September 9, 2009.