Forest City , Solution Strategies Save the Environment
The world community was familiar with the term ' global warming ' or global warming . Various
Global warming can be interpreted
as an increase in air temperature at the earth's surface and in the oceans. The
researchers said that this temperature increase began in the 20th century and
are predicted to continue to increase. This phenomenon is called ' global
warming ' . But most scientists use the term climate change, arguing that it is
happening now is not just a question of increasing the heat of the air
temperature , but also climate change is a very significant and unexpected .
Whatever term is used, the obvious issue of global warming has now become a central issue in which every human being on this earth has a responsibility to address it . No human being , or group , or nation that can say that they should not be responsible for damage to nature now, because of all the creatures on this earth are in the ' womb ' of the earth . Not least we are in Indonesia .
Objective conditions in Indonesia
Indonesia ranks third among the seven countries called biodiversity country. Indonesia's forests are home to thousands of species of flora and fauna, and many of which are endemic in Indonesia . Ironically , deforestation has extended the list of the types that fall into the category of extinction ( endangered ) .
Forests Indonesia is also the
largest and richest forests in Asia , but is in a crisis that is very worrying
. Every year more than 2 million hectares of forest damaged and destroyed .
When compared to the soccer fields , the 300 field destroyed every year !
Official information indicates that illegal logging is thought to have reached
17-30 million m3 per year . This amount is equivalent to 400000-800000 hectares
of forest cut illegally every year .
Some NGOs reported that illegal
logging has reached 52 percent of the total round wood production that
originates in the natural forest . The timber industry is expected to receive a
supply of logs up to 80 million m3 per year . While natural forests resma can
only supply about 29.5 million m3 per year . Great shortage of supply
officially has created loopholes for illegal logging . Forest damage not only
destroy biodiversity will not be replaced , but also result in increased global
warming . Meanwhile , about 30 million Indonesian people are very livelihood to
forest resources .
Forest City
Indeed, the government has made
various efforts to address illegal logging. Start of policies issued in the
form of the Act (the Act) and Government Regulation ( PP ) to the '
mobilization ' of various organizations or environmental groups to engage the
community to be actively involved in saving the environment . The result was
not too disappointing actually, where we can see the number of cases of illegal
logging was successfully brought to justice.
The problem is, all of these
efforts clearly not optimal and integrated. Moreover, when compared with the
amount of damage that has occurred and that may have been done, pessimism
immediately imagined, would we be able to control the destruction of forests
within the next ten years? One of the efforts that have been taken by the
government is the idea of the development of the urban forest.
Urban forest is a land grow trees
in urban areas, on land that serves as a buffer state in the arrangement of the
environment air, water, flora and fauna that have aesthetic value with an area
of 0.4 acres is solid green open space, the trees and the area defined as the
authorized officer of Forest City . (Directorate General of Reforestation and
Land Rehabilitation, Department of Forestry, 2002 ) .
According to the authors, the
woods are very strategic city became the main focus of the government and the
people , because this idea is more grounded and benefits directly felt .
Moreover, the majority of Indonesian people actually are in urban areas.
Without ignoring the importance of preserving native forests, urban forests
more easily disseminated to the public utilization.
If we talk about the actual
forest, it is certain that most people would assume that it was not their
problem. Indonesian communities have invisible characters ' not too concerned '
with things that are not directly related to him. That's why a lot of failures
encountered when we talk about the importance of preserving the forest.
Forests, for some communities in Indonesia are not their responsibility, although it was realized that many components of their livelihoods depend on forest products. Forest City became one surefire option to save the environment for several reasons:
1. Creating
a coolness and comfort , as in the case of urban forest photosynthesis process
that converts CO2 in the air into O2 and H2O . The ability of plants in the CO2
consumed by Grey and Deneke ( in ' Urban Forestry ' , 1998) every one hour ,
one acre of green leaves absorbs 8 kg of CO2 , the amount of CO2 equivalent to
the amount of CO2 exhaled by about 200 people in less time same during
breathing.
2. Forest
City serves to maintain the fertility of the soil , because the soil particles
in the urban forest containing colloidal soil better than urban land . Colloids
are charged positive so as to maintain the existing nutrients and release it
according to the needs of plants . The presence of nutrients in the soil
colloids are flexible , meaning that it can be interchanged with similar
nutrients better when nutrients are no longer eligible again . Thus, the plant
will continue to get the best nutrients for their needs ( Mudyarso and
Suharsono , the ' Role of the Urban Forest Climate Control City ' , 1992) .
3. Forest
City serves as a filter for pollutants , because the soil containing colloidal
particles ( of organic matter ) contains ions that can absorb heavy metals or
other toxic substances contained in the water . In the urban jungle , the
existing soil colloids will be able to bind heavy metals in rainwater mixed as
Cu and Mg so that the water that goes into the ground is absorbed by the roots
of many relatively reduced heavy metal content .
4. Forest
town enhances water absorption power and store it in the soil and then be used
again resulting in the hydrological cycle .
5. Forest
City also plays an important role in the conservation of soil through erosion
prevention . Erosion generally occurs due to surface flow ( run-off ) of
rainwater that carry soil particles and organic matter the soil so that the
soil becomes barren . In the forest areas of the city, the run-off does not
occur because of : their plants closely enough , their root system , and the
presence of organic matter on soil colloids . The concept of urban forest
proved more successful overcome environmental damage in other countries.
Urban Forestry ( urban forestry )
even became a branch of science since realized that it is very important to
study the environment , especially trees , both on the cultivation , management
, as well as the function and usefulness in physiologic, socially and
economically to the urban community.
Constraints faced
The main problem encountered in
urban forest development with regard to the availability of land , and city
planning issues . Problem of availability of land for urban forest , as well as
how to streamline the land use clean is key in the development of the urban
forest . The more the land more valuable and more expensive , the less for
urban forests , so it is often the case in the interests of the struggle for
land use activities of the various sectors of the city .
Ironically , the construction of
buildings to malls and similar places is very much prevalent in each region.
Look at all the developers how easy it is to get permission to build a skyscraper
to the mall or town square, but instead the urban forest . On the other hand ,
there are no penalties for local governments that do not develop the urban
forest .
This fact clearly shows that the
government's commitment to save the environment from more severe damage is
still questionable.
Another problem is the awareness
and responsibility of people who still lack of the need for protecting the
environment , ranging from the environment to the environment wide . Our
society still considers that environmental problems are problems and the
responsibility of government alone . See it when a disaster occurs , such as
flooding . Most people still blame totally on the government do not care about
their fate , without realizing that the behavior of their daily lives are also
potentially lead to a disaster , such as taking out the trash at times or cut
down trees around the housing .
Some Alternative Solutions
Forest City , definitely one of the perfect solution to prevent environmental damage . However , this concept would not exist if it is not accompanied by the commitment and efforts of the various parties is holistic . Some policy focus that can be taken are :
1. Improve
the public awareness about the dangers of forest destruction for life . The
most basic strategy is to integrate formal program began with education
curriculum basic to high level . While informal effort is to empower community
groups through counseling , socialization , and training . Be aware that for
Indonesian society , community groups are very influential and more
approachable informally rather than through a political approach .
2. Creating
market linkages to combat illegal logging . This can be done by closing or
eliminating the market for illegal timber.
3. Reduce
investment in companies involved in illegal logging in Indonesia . Although the
sector will have an impact on jobs and the economy some people , but this
option should take long- term interests.
4. Provide
heavy penalties all parties associated with illegal logging and destruction of
the environment and provide incentives for people or parties that proved to
actively engage in forest conservation.
5. Provide
severe penalties for local governments that do not develop the urban forest in
their respective areas . These sanctions may include corporal punishment or
withholding PAD by the central government for the purposes of forest
conservation.
6. The
application of appropriate technology and environmentally friendly in the industry
sector and other fields.
7. Empower
every convenience provided technology to disseminate how valuable forests for
life . Television programs or public service announcements need to be improved
with regard to the importance of forest conservation.
Any effort will only succeed if
accompanied by a genuine commitment. Goodwill and appropriate government action,
as well as community involvement in addressing environmental damage sorely
missed nature itself for the benefit of the human race. The entire community
needs to be reminded that the forest is the 'home' comfortable with endless
resources for human life, if preserved.
Tag :
Enviroment Education
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