Jakarta not only requires river restoration but also river naturalization, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan has said.

Anies mentioned Singapore, Tokyo and Sydney as cities that had inspired him to apply the naturalization concept for rivers, reservoirs, lakes and artificial lakes, as a way to manage bodies of water through the development of green open spaces (RTH).

“Today, the whole world is moving toward greener cities. Just look at Tokyo and Singapore. They don’t have much land but naturalization can still take place there,” said Anies as quoted by kompas.com on Monday.

River naturalization will help mitigate overflows, slow water currents and maintain the natural ecosystem.

This project, Anies said, could not be actualized if the current method of using concrete in riverbeds continued.

Earlier this month, Anies stated he would continue a riverbank clearance and construction project using a Rp 500 billion (US$35 million) budget next year, which would be allocated for, among other things, clearing land along riverbanks and installing sheet piles, as well as the revitalization of 14 flood control facilities.

Jakarta Water Resource Agency head Teguh Hendarwan said that the naturalization process would also take into account the availability of land so as not to disturb nearby residents.

“The river naturalization concept will [ensure waterways are] able to store enough water, be it quality-wise or quantity-wise. Rivers, reservoirs, lakes and artificial lakes are places where flora and fauna develop. [The goal is] to conserve their natural features,” said Teguh.

In the long run, trees and aquaponics would be planted as part of the naturalization process, he added. (mai)