This Is The Reason Megawati Established A Greenhouse In The Bogor Botanical Gardens Complex

BOGOR - Chairman of the Indonesian Botanical Gardens Foundation (YKRI) Prof. Dr. (HC) Megawati Soekarnoputri inaugurated the Soedjana Kassan Orchid Greenhouse, which is in the Bogor Botanical Gardens complex, West Java, Wednesday, May 17. On that occasion, Megawati reminisced in her childhood to tell her about her efforts to increase her botanical gardens in Indonesia.

Megawati recalled her childhood when she lived in the Bogor Palace with her father, First President of the Republic of Indonesia Soekarno.

"A little nostalgia. I, right, the president's son, like to sleep at the Palace. Vacation, around the Botanical Gardens," said Megawati Soekarnoputri in her speech.

Megawati said that from the Botanical Gardens she often played with her sister. In fact, several times they have played in places related to nature.

"If there is a garbage truck, always us, right, (play), I put my bicycle, I went up with my sister to the small garbage truck that had been thrown away. Fishing in the Ciliwung River, then looking for shrimp in the river," said Megawati.

This relationship with nature made Megawati establish the Indonesian Botanical Garden Foundation.

The chairman of the Steering Committee of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) also asked his staff at BRIN to have the same spirit in preserving botanical gardens and increasing green space.

"I really ask, please, if you work, BRIDA and BRIN in Kebun Raya for enthusiasm and discipline. This is for the state, not for yourself," he added.

The general chairman of the PDI-P also did not forget to deliver his 206th anniversary of the Bogor Botanical Gardens.

"The 206th anniversary is for the Bogor Botanical Gardens, which I love and are always preserved. Foreigners always say, beautiful beauty garden. Even though in the past it was only five hectares, now there are 51 hectares," said Megawati.

Rumah Kaca Anggrek Soedjana yang berdiri di lahan sekitar 6,818 meter. Di dalamnya terdapat 500 koleksi Bunga Anggrek se-Indonesia.

Meanwhile, from an area of about 6,818 meters, it is intended for the parent greenhouse, network culture laboratory, contact for the Orchid room, as well as collection rooms and exhibitions for Orchids.

The name Soedjana Kassan itself is taken from a lover of ornamental plants, especially Orchids. Soedjana was the first Indonesian to serve as Head of the Bogor Botanical Gardens.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Ministry of PUPR Zainal Fatah said the Orchid Greenhouse was built in 2019 and completed in 2021. The building arrangement for the orchid garden area includes a main greenhouse covering an area of 6,813 square meters and a manufacturing laboratory of 1,560 square meters.

Zainal said that this facility was prepared to maximize the function of the Bogor Botanical Gardens.

In the parent house of Anggrek, there is a need for exploration, care, and isolation.

"The laboratorium on tissue culture and anggrek griya is in accordance with the functions discussed with BRIN," said Zainal Fatah.

Head of BRIN Laksana Tri Handoko expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Bogor Botanical Gardens for carrying out various plant and other conservation activities.

"We express our gratitude and appreciation to our friends from the Bogor Botanical Gardens who have been carrying out conservation, reservation, and utilization of various Idnonesian species plants for a long time. In particular, in wet lowlands," said Handoko.