TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The leaded fuel eradication committee (KPBB) said the logging of Angsana or Narra (Pterocarpus indicus) trees stood along Cikini sidewalks showed that Jakarta had violated its commitment to protecting the climate in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent until 2030.

“It is clear that the tree logging is contradictive to the government’s commitment to lower greenhouse gas emission, reduce the local temperature, and combat rising temperatures in the city,” said the KPBB executive director Ahmad Safrudin in Jakarta, Tuesday, November 5.

Ahmad said that the city administration should preserve existing trees considering the capital only had 9.4 percent of open green spaces (RTH), far from the target of 20 percent in 2030.

In addition to helping decrease greenhouse gas emissions, the trees could absorb pollutants, which caused severe air quality in the capital.

“The risk of fallen stems and broken branches can actually be anticipated by carrying out regular logging of the stems,” he added.

Moreover, the committee head opined that the government’s plan to replace angsana with tabebuia trees was improper in terms of the function.

“Tabebuia as a replacement of angsana can only absorb CO2 at 24.2 gram/hour, while Angsana is able to capture 310 gram/hour. By means, its capability is only 7.8 percent compared to angsana’s in absorbing CO2,” Ahmad explained.

Previously, Jakarta Forestry Agency cut down trees along Cikini sidewalks in the program implementation of sidewalk revitalization conducted by Jakarta Bina Marga Agency.

The logging of angsana and weeping fig trees was aimed at creating safe sidewalks for pedestrians and plant rejuvenation,” said Suzi, the head of Forestry Agency.

ANTARA