One of our effort is by building a new urban forest, in accordance with our authority. This is because the land must have at least 4-6 urban forests

Jakarta Provincial Government has targeted to build 30 percent of green open space (RTH) in West Jakarta, but its realization only reaches 12 percent. 

Head of West Jakarta Parks Sub-Department, Joko Riyanto disclosed his party keeps trying to procure the RTH in his region. With an area as wide as 127.11 square kilometers, the land must ideally have 38 square kilometers of RTH.  

"One of our effort is by building a new urban forest, in accordance with our authority. This is because the land must have at least 4-6 urban forests," he uttered, Thursday (10/16).

According to him, his sub-department has responsible for maintaining two urban forests, Kembangan City Forest as wide as 1.8 hectares, located in Kembangan Sub-District and Rawa Buaya City Forest as wide as 1.9 hectares in Cengkareng Sub-District.

"There are only two urban forests where the authority of procurement and its maintenance lies on us. While for other city forests like Srengseng City Forest lies in Parks Department," he expressed.

Riyanto expressed, the 12 percent of the existing RTH consist of urban forests and green belt located alongside road and park. "RTH is very important, because its existence is the lungs of the city and water absorption," he explained.

On the other hand, he also plans to widen the Rawa Buaya Urban Forest because there is a 5.1-hectare land belongs to Jakarta government that can be used as an urban forest. But it cannot be done in short time due to land management still being handled by the Jakarta Financial Management Body (BPKD).

"Fund for widening project is Rp 25 billion, which started gradually since 2009. We expect the land as wide as 5.1 hectares under the BPKD, could be handed over to us for RTH widening. This is because we had difficulties to acquire land, moreover its price also expensive," he uttered.