Bali urged to implement green space

Luh De Suriyani, The Jakarta Post, Sanur, Bali | Wed, 11/10/2010 11:30 AM | Bali
Cities in Indonesia must be developed as environmentally and community friendly places to avoid the fate of Jakarta, a prime example of a “disoriented city”, growing as business, industrial and government centers.

Max Pohan, the deputy chairman of regional development at the National Development Planning Board, told participants at the National Conference on Smart Green City Planning in Sanur on Tuesday that provincial administrations must change their focus from developing cities for industry and business, to turning them into green, sustainable locations.

Bali, he said, pledged to become the country’s first green province by protecting 90 percent of the existing arable land and rice paddies as green zones until 2025 — meaning no development would be allowed within these protected areas.

The Public Works Ministry said Bali was experiencing a dramatic change in its landscape. Unchecked development along coastal areas and sea abrasion have reduced the island’s total land area and shoreline.

In the last 20 years, the island’s farmlands have been transformed into residential areas and tourism-related developments.

“We have to convince local authorities to commit to the policies and programs,” Max said.

Bali also announced plans to extend public parks and open spaces to 30 percent of the island’s total area.

Denpasar, like other urban areas in Indonesia, is facing complex problems including skyrocketing population growth and a lack of residential areas and job opportunities.

By 2015, an estimated 59.3 percent of Indonesians will live in urban areas, increasing further to 67.6 percent by 2025.

Budhy Tjahjati S. Soegijoko, the senior executive director of the Urban and Regional Development Institute (URDI) and a professor at the Bandung Institute of Tech-nology, said cities had to be prepared for natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

“Green cities must encourage their residents to act accordingly, such as using public transpor-
tation to reduce air pollution. Cities should also be ready to handle the spread of infectious diseases,”
she said.

Ecological experts, she added, encouraged city planners to measure their ecological footprints including measuring levels of air, water and noise pollution, and focusing on programs to improve environmental conditions.

“A city is healthy and green if it can solve social, health and environmental problems,” she said.

University of Indonesia sociology professor, Imam Prasodjo, cited an example of participatory urban planning management.

“I do not believe the transmigration program can solve urban and population problems,” he said, referring to the longstanding voluntary program of moving families or communities from densely populated areas to other sparsely populated islands.

He said he believed planning a creative economic and industrial hub may change the lives of people and their surroundings.

Imam cited the Kapuk area on Jakarta’s north coast as one of the best examples of community participation in improving residential areas.

“This was one of the dirtiest and most densely populated areas in Jakarta. It was always inundated by floods, and there were no sanitation facilities. It was a nightmarish place,” Imam said.

He said that residents, through innovation and creativity, tried to develop their village into a clean and green place to live in. They built sanitary facilities, clean water tanks, public toilets and roads.

“They also built a floating library for children and adults,” he added.