Faculty of Forestry IPB Organized the Workshop on the Role of Trees
The tree is something common in our life, therefore no one put it as a special thing in their mind. But to mark the International Tree Planting Day to be held on November 21, Faculty of Forestry IPB reminds the importance role of trees to us by organizing the workshop on " Peran Pohon Dalam Mewujudkan Permukiman dan Kota Ramah Lingkungan (The Role of Trees to Support the Development of Urban Lands and Sustainable Cities", on Monday, 3 December 2012, at IPB International Convention Center (IICC), Bogor.
The Deputy for Technical Facility and Environment of the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Hendri Bastaman, was happy to welcome the event which was participated by academicians, researchers, policy makers, businessmen, and tree lovers. Dr Hendri evaluated that the themes which was taken for the workshop was really match with the current trend, not only in Indonesia but also globally.
Previously, the Vice Rector of IPB for Research and Cooperation, Prof. Dr. Mifath Anas Fauzi, stated in his opening remarks that the tree is an important part of urban spatial structure. But due to the age and environmental pressure, the trees in the urban lands have become a source of danger to the public.
"In Bandung and Jakarta, for example due to the storms lots of trees fell down. In addition to substantial loss of material, they also killed people. The nearest site in Bogor, particularly trees at the Pajajaran street, the old and large banyan trees may threaten the safety of people who pass by at any time. Therefore, it is necessary to have early detection, regular monitoring, and maintenance of the health of those trees, "said Prof. Anas.
On the other hand, Prof. Anas Indonesia reiterate the commitment for the agreements formulated in the Climate Change conference, which was organized by the United Nations in Doha, Qatar. The OBIT program is Indonesia`s concrete contribution to the world to deal with the impacts of climate change and global warming. In this case, Indonesia is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions beginning in 2015, to sustain to the Earth’s temperature not to increase more than two degrees Celsius.
Therefore, added Prof Anas, buildings, urban lands residential areas, as well as cities are new challenge and they are potential to become the target of CO2 gas emission reduction goals. "In this regard, the establishment of sustainable housing and eco-city will be instrumental to be very important and even urgent," said Prof Anas.
Prof. Dr. Dodi Nandika, one of the Professor on Forestry of IPB, stressed the importance to strengthen the steps to realize sustainable and eco-city housing through three principal efforts. First, the reducing the utilization of natural resources, especially energy, water and raw materials. Second, minimizing environmental impact, especially waste and destruction of the building foundations. Third, increasing the freshness and comfort to live in the building.
Prof. Dodi also stressed that the tree or trees are not only will enhance the beauty, but also improve the quality of life in communities, the social, economic, and environment of the settlement or city across the country through the multiple benefits provided by trees. "It is well understood as trees are producing oxygen, absorbing greenhouse gases, including CO2, functioning as gas filter of pollutants, microclimate control, erosion prevention, and enhancing" the selling "a settlement areas or city," explained Prof Dodi.
Accordingly, explained Prof. Dodi, IPB has been the partner of developers and the management of residential areas and has implemented the sustainable and eco-city housing, including in Sentul urban lands. "Experts and researchers of IPB have scientific competence that are relevant and reliable in supporting the realization of it," said Prof Dodi. (Wied).
