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Ex-park heads flag new light show as 'commercialization' of Bogor gardens
Five former heads of the renowned Bogor Botanical Gardens have raised their concerns over planned commercial developments that they say supplants the national park's original purposes of conservation and scientific research.
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The Garuda Pancasila national emblem is landscaped on the lush grounds of the Bogor Botanical Gardens in Bogor, West Java. (Bogor Botanical Garden/-)
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light show and revitalization project planned for the Bogor Botanical Gardens in Bogor, West Java, have sparked concerns that Southeast Asia’s oldest botanical garden has strayed from its original function as a conservation park and research center in favor of commercialization.
The concerns were first raised in an open letter dated Sept. 20 and signed by five former heads of the Bogor gardens, which was also circulated via messaging apps. It warned that the light show, dubbed “GLOW” and planned to be part of a night tour through certain areas, could endanger pollinators that live in the national park.
The letter also questioned the sustainability of recent infrastructure projects inside the gardens, such as replacing a stone footpath with a concrete path that would reduce the park’s natural catchment areas.
In January last year, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) partnered with event organizer PT Mitra Natura Raya to manage the commercial and promotional aspects of four botanical gardens under its management. Aside from the Bogor Botanical Gardens, the other three botanical gardens are located in Cibodas, West Java, Purwodadi, East Java, and Tabanan, Bali.
Dedy Darnaedi, who was among the former Bogor Botanical Gardens heads who signed the letter, confirmed the letter’s authenticity when The Jakarta Post contacted him in Bogor on Wednesday. He added that the letter was sent to the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in response to complaints they had heard in relation to the gardens’ current management.
"It seems that there has not been proper dialogue [over the plans], especially between senior workers at the botanical gardens and the newer management,” said Dedy, who was quick to point out that it was not wrong for LIPI to team up with the private sector in managing the gardens.
He stressed, however, that the partnership should not jeopardize the gardens' primary function as a conservation park.
