The Jakarta Globe, January 10, 2014.
Balikpapan. Tri Neno Nugroho, 28, and his bride-to-be Riska Widyastuti, 25, were all smiles as they handed over four seedlings to urban ward officials in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.
No, it was not a symbolic gesture signifying a budding relationship: instead, the city’s environmental agency has required couples that wish to wed to donate plants in order for them to obtain a marriage recommendation letter and officially marry under Balikpapan’s religious affairs office.
“I am happy and the same time proud of this city policy,” Neno said at the office of the Prapatan urban ward. “It is making us all couples that love the environment.”
The couple brought two red Syzygium and two mango seedlings. Under the recommendation of the city environmental agency, all four will be planted at various locations, including in parks, urban forests or in any number of landslide-prone areas.
Balikpapan city spokesman Sudirman Djayaleksana, said that the policy, contained in a mayoral regulation, has been in place since 2009. Starting this year, however, the donating couple will also be obliged to care for and nurture the trees they planted.
Sudirman said that the city was considering expanding the requirement to the processing of other documents, such as ID cards and birth certificates.
“This policy is growing,” he said. “Initially, each person had to bring two seedlings. Now, they not only have to donate the trees, but also plant them as a reminder of their wedding.”
The city authorities, he said, are optimistic that the policy will catch on.
“This is not difficult. At the same time, it supports the central government’s program to plant one million trees,” Sudirman said. “Balikpapan will become green and shady.”
Balikpapan is second only to the East Java capital of Surabaya in terms of amount of trees planted per year in Indonesian cities.
Andi Burhanuddin Solong, a deputy chairman of the Balikpapan city legislative council, aired his support for the seedling plan.
“Expanding this regulation will be helpful to build public awareness about our environment,” he said.
Andi also said that the city was currently formulating a draft regulation on public open space. The regulation would require the city to reserve 30 percent of its area for public parks.
“Every building under construction should dedicate 30 percent of its land for public green space,” he said.
He added that the city’s zoning plans have already provided for a greater amount of open green space: only 48 percent of Balikpapan’s open plots are eligible to be built on, and the remaining 52 percent will be used for parks.
“The formulation of such a regulation reflects the commitment of all stakeholders to uphold this zoning law,” he said.
He added that there was also a need for clear and firm sanctions against violators, and Andi called on the city to strictly abide by the zoning law when issuing building permits.
(So what has a guy to add to his marriage proposal? "Have tree.., want to marry!
allemachies) siK
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vr 10 jan 2014 - 5:32