IPB Prepares An Environmentally Friendly Port Development Study In Marunda, North Jakarta

JAKARTA - Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) through the LPPM Mining Reclamation Study Center is preparing a study to build an environmentally friendly port (green port) at Marunda Port, North Jakarta, which is managed by the Port Business Entity PT Karya Citra Nusantara (KCN).

"IPB is involved in planning a port with a green port concept which was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding or MoU with KCB in February 2022," said Head of the Revegetation Division of the Mine Reclamation Study Center of LPPM IPB Sri Wilarso Budi, quoted from Antara, Saturday 2 July.

Sri Wilarso said that his party would conduct a study in determining what plants were suitable to be planted at the Port of BUP PT. KCN which was marked by the signing of the MoU in February 2022.

"In the MoU, we have agreed that there will be survey activities including checking the landscape and analyzing the chemical properties of the soil and then what materials we will use," said Sri.

IPB will compile and make a site plan report and detailed engineering design, including the selection of plant species, determination of cropping patterns, preparation of planting, then planting, plant maintenance, preparation of plant lineages to site plans and mapping.

Sri Wilarso explained that in the initial survey to Marunda Port, it was known that the port owned by PT KCN was the conversion of coastal land to land, so planting trees was not as easy as planting on ordinary ground.

"Later in engineering design to plant trees requires a large hole, it will bring in soil from the outside. So you can't rely on the backfill that is there and add other materials that can help plants survive in extreme conditions," he explained.

Regarding the challenges of developing an environmentally friendly port, Sri admitted that the seawater factor is also something that must be considered.

"Of course we have to analyze whether later in the place where we are going to plant there will be too much seawater intrusion or not, so there is salinity that we will measure," he said.

Furthermore, Sri Wilarso said that the study process took about 3 months to find the right type of plant, how to plant it and the right location.

"Once the results of the study are out, then we will convey it to the board of directors and if it is immediately approved for execution, then development can be carried out," he said.

On a different occasion, the President Director of PT KCN Widodo Setiadi said that KCN has always continued its commitment to building a green port.

As of today, the total mangrove planting at PT KCN BUP from stage 1 to stage 2 has reached 1,080 meters from the target of 1,700 meters.

"PT KCN BUP has provided 1,700 meters of land as a mangrove forest area. The first stage of planting is 600 meters long and has been planted and there is also an ecosystem that lives in it," said Sri Wilarso.

The mangrove planting effort, he continued, is KCN's support for the rehabilitation program launched by President Joko Widodo, which targets mangroves to be planted in an area of 600,000 hectares by 2024.

BUP PT KCN has also socialized to implement it to the surrounding community through the CSR Education program so that the community has awareness of the importance of health.

In addition, PT KCN also routinely conducts tests of air quality standards in the port area. From two tests of quality standard tests, it shows that the results of air quality at BUP PT KCN are below the threshold or below the standard determined by government regulations.

"PT KCN's BUP has coordinated and collaborated with IPB to conduct studies to support the implementation of this green port," Widodo said.