Despite the administration's plan to acquire lands for reforestation in Jagakarsa, South Jakarta, residents remain uninformed of the location site, which may affect their houses.
Hakim, 22, native resident of Jagakarsa subdistrict in Srengseng Sawah of South Jakarta, said he had never heard of the plan to build city forests around his neighborhood, located on Jl. Mohammad Kahfi II.
"We would've heard the *plan* rumor if they *administration officials* already had a plan, especially in their efforts to acquire residents' land. But I've heard nothing," he told The Jakarta Post last week.
South Jakarta Agriculture and Forestry Agency was previously reported to be planning a 1.2-hectare-wide city forest in Jl. Mohammad Kahfi II. Land acquisition is scheduled to take place by the end of this year, to start the project in 2010.
Agency head Aswin Saragih said that landowners had approved the acquisition plan.
"National Land Agency *BPN* will soon conduct a physical inventory of the land. We will pay *the lands* based on BPN's work, instead of land certificate basis.
"The land value based on the property tax value worth Rp 1,214,000 per square meter, excluding trees on the land," Aswin told beritajakarta.com last week.
Aswin further said they would follow a presidential decree on land acquisition in which central and local governments have the rights to residential land for public premises.
The governments would purchase, barter or acquire the lands in other ways that were considered fair for the landowners.
Aswin said his agency would also act as leading sector in building the city forest.
"The city forest will have various productive and rare plants. We will also provide a jogging track, which could be publicly used," said Aswin, adding the forest would be added to the list of city forests inside the University of Indonesia complex and in Jl. Prapanca, near the South Jakarta Mayor's Office.
A member of Betawi Culture village administration, Indra Sutisna, said he had once heard about the city's plan concerning the city forest.
"I have no further information on where exactly the administration is going to build the forest but I don't think they are going to build it here, inside the Betawi cultural complex, as I have not received any official information from the administration."
Despite the unclear information, Indra said he had suggested that the administration build the forest within the complex due to efficiency.
"Based on the fact that around 65 hectares, out of a total 289 hectares land and lake in the complex, is owned by the government, I believe my suggestion makes sense. The administration does not have to spend more money to acquire the land," he said, adding the planned forest would only require a small amount of land.
Indra explained that South Jakarta Public Works Agency would also enlarge Setu Babakan, or Lake Babakan, in the cultural complex from 14 to 28 hectares, starting next year.
"I think it'd be fine if they *the public works agency* allocate a hectare or two from the lake expansion plan for city forest. "
