IPB is Concerned with the Issue of Puncak Region Conversion

The issue of change in the protected area established in the regional government’s Regulation of 2008 into cultivated area in Puncak, Bogor Regency has encouraged Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) through the Faculty of Forestry in collaboration with the Graduate School of Environmental Studies Program (SPS) IPB and the Environmental Management Agency of Bogor Regency and the Center for Biodiversity Studies and Rehabilitation of Tropical Forests to invite stakeholders in a limited group to discuss the topic entitled "Directions of Utilizing Puncak Region" at Silva Pertamina Hall, Campus Darmaga of IPB (4/10).

"IPB feels guilty if the issue is true, so we feel the need to sit down together with relevant institutions such as Bogor Regency Government, Environmental Management Agency of Bogor Regency, National Land Agency, Regional Development Planning Board of Bogor regency, Department of Agriculture and Forestry of Bogor regency, Head of Directorate General of Spatial Planning of the Ministry of Public Works, Board of Government Coordination and Regional Development I, Perhutani Office, Centre of Planning and Regional Development (P4W) IPB, Center for the Biodiversity Studies and Rehabilitation of Tropical Forest of the Faculty of Forestry and other related parties to clarify the matter, "said Prof.  Dr. Ir. Bambang Hero Saharjo, Dean of Forestry Faculty.

If indeed there is a change of designated protected area into cultivated area as it has been discussed a lot in the mass media in recent months, IPB is worried this will lead to more fatal disaster. "Do not let it happen again for the second time of disaster like that of the past few years in Mandalawangi Garut, that is, human toll as a result of the conversion of the protected area into a cultivated area," said Prof. Bambang. According to him, after a half-day discussion it is inferred that it is not true that there is going to be a conversion of the protected area into a cultivated one. However, there will be a review of the Regional Regulation No. 19/2008, because according to Law 26/2007 on spatial planning it is legal to perform a revision once in 5 years. A revision of Spatial and Regional Planning (RTRW) is recommendable if there is a change of national policy which affects the spatial planning of the region and or there is a dynamics of regional development that requires a revised spatial planning of the region.

In accordance with the existing law and regulations, all parties, including the relevant local government must comply with the provisions of Presidential Decree No. 54/2008 in terms of space utilization and review planning/revision of the regional spatial plan of Jabodetabekpunjur.

Government of Bogor district is conducting a study to revise the Regional Regulation on Regional Spatial Panning of Bogor No 19/2008 RTRW to make adjustments of the protected areas to the Regional regulation on Regional Spatial Panning of West Java No. 22/2010 (the approval to the substance from the Minister of Public Works No.HK.01.03-Mn/632 dated 17 November 2009), but the establishment of the protected area in the West Java Regional Regulation refers to the state forest map based on the letter of Ministry of Forestry No.S.276/Menhut.VII / 2010 in the form of designated forest map of West Java Province which was renewed based on a basic thematic map of forestry (PDTK). The designated forest map of West Java Province differs from that of the protected area under Presidential Decree No. 54/2008. For this reason, if a revision is to be made of the spatial planning, then the status of Puncak area must refer to Presidential Decree No. 54/2008, which means the study and revision of the Regional Regulation on Regional Spatial Planning (RTRW) of Bogor No.19/2008 must refer to the Presidential Decree No 54/2008. Additionally, such a revision must refer to the provisions in Law No.26/2007 and Government Regulation 15/2010 which states that a revision of Spatial Plan in the Regency can be implemented according to certain criteria and previously performed reconsideration (review) of the RTRW. Under the Bogor’s Regional Regulation of RTRW 19/2008, the allocate space for the protected area is approximately 133 000 ha (44.7% of the total area of Bogor Regency), consisting of 14.24% conservation forest, 2.93% protected forests and 27.5% other protected areas other than the forest area. The Bogor’s Regional Regulation of RTRW refers to the Presidential Decree 54/2008 on Spatial Planning of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi and Cianjur, while the designated forest map of West Java Province is different from the map of protected areas in the Presidential Regulation 54/2008. It is this matter that has become the hot issue because Bogor’s RTRW Regulation No.19/2008 mentions the existence of protected area, but in the Spatial Plan of West Java No.22/2010 there are no mention of the protected area, but there is a cultivated area in the form of limited production forests based on Letter from the Minister of Forestry No. S.276/2010, not conforming to the Presidential Decree 54 of 2008 which should have been used as the reference.

On the one hand, spatial planning regulations of Bogor No.19/2008 will be adjusted to that of West Java No.22/2010, the Regional Regulation of West Java on the RTRW is not in line with the Presidential Decree No.54/2008, especially on protected areas, so the controversy has come up, i.e. that the existing protected area is stated in the RTRW of Bogor Noo.19/2008, bust it is mentioned as a cultivated area in West Java RTRW no.22/2010," he explained. (Mtd)