The existence of the Blue Open Space (RTB) has been Threatened
Students of the GraduateStudies of IPB on Sustainable Landscape Management Course explained that the existence of Ruang Terbuka Biru(Blue Open Space – RTB) in Cibinong, Bogor regency,has been threatened. This was stated in the special event on “PenguatanEkonomiKecamatan Cibinong BerbasisPengelolaan Situ SecaraBerkelanjutan” (Strengthening Economic Status of Cibinong District by Situ-Based Sustainable Management) in the Landscape Meeting room, at DarmagaCampus, on 27 May 2013. Staff and officers of Bogor regency and some NGOs present in thatspecial event.
"Under the Dutch colonial, the importance of RTB has been taken care of by constructing 800 dams. Out those dams only 400 reservoirs remaining at present. The decrease hasbeen due to the housing and property development. Actually, RTB (such as lakes, ponds) can be developed into the tourist objects as they have a better qualitylandscapes or to be developed into the part of property development such as those developed in Japan, Thailand, Vietnam (Hanoi City as the Thousand Lakes), Singapore, the USA, and others,"said Prof.Dr.Ir. HadiSusiloArifin as Supervisor at the opening remarks of the event.
Cibinong has 18 situ (lakes) scattered in several villages. Situ as part of hydraroligal cycle plays an important role as a water catchment and other conservation areas. Meanwhile, from 1998 to 2010, there have been an increase of 35.93% of the abandon lands to be converted into housing complexes. Such situation was very alarming as the increase will further threaten the existence of RTB in the region.
Actual observations on those three lakes, namely (1).Cikaret, (2).situPemda, and (3).situKebantenan, the potentialities of those RTB might be optimized as they are strategically located (situ Government and Kabantenan situ), the breath-taking views and large area (situ Cikaret). So their existences and functions should be preserved.
"The potentialities of those three lakes are feasible to be developed, especially for tourism due to their layout and biophysical aspects. Both factors are very supportive to the sustainability of the lakes as public facilities," said one student.
To optimize the RTB as economic boosters for Cibinong District, there are recommended strategies to be taken. The strategies are: (1). Utilizing lakes as a local wisdom – based tourist area; (2). Strategic plan by the local authority to implement reward and punishment systemfor the community; (3). Formulating regulations to govern the land use of situ by the communities; (4). Optimizing the utilization of situ by the communities through government assistance to support the tourism programs: (5). Providing infrastructure and facilities to prevent siltation and eutrophication situ; (6). Formulating regulations that suppress the migration into the situ areas, and social participation of the communities for the implementation and supervision of these regulations, and make media interpretation as well.(Wied).
