Acting Mayor Of Bandung Asks Further Leaders To Protect North Bandung Area

JAKARTA - The 2024 regional elections, which will be held on November 27, 2024, will give birth to new regional leaders, one of which is in the city of Bandung.

Therefore, the Acting Mayor of Bandung, A. Koswara, emphasized that the next Mayor of Bandung must protect the North Bandung (KBU) area as part of efforts to preserve the environment and sustainability.

He reminded that KBU is a vital element that not only has an impact on the Bandung City ecosystem, but also on the Greater Bandung area as a whole.

"KBU must be the concern of all parties, including the candidates for the leader of the upcoming city of Bandung."

"KBU preservation is a shared responsibility, not only the City Government, but also the DPRD, district, private governments, political parties, and the community," he said.

He also highlighted the importance of planting trees in critical lands in KBU to prevent ecological disasters.

All parties, including the community and other stakeholders, are expected to participate in this reforestation as a real step to protect the ecosystem, especially in the North Bandung area.

Koswara further said that the decline in the flow of springs in the city of Bandung reached more than two-thirds compared to the past.

This makes Bandung City's dependence on raw water supply from outside the region with the availability of clean water only sufficient for 30 percent of residents.

"Clean water issues must be a strategic concern. If the KBU is not guarded, we ourselves will face critical conditions in the future," he said.

In addition to reforestation efforts, Koswara encourages the development of a conservation concept that is oriented towards community empowerment.

According to him, reforestation can be managed economically by utilizing community land for plants that not only function as conservation, but also provide additional income.

"We have to create a more systematic system so that people's land is not only an environmental asset, but also provides economic benefits."

"This step requires commitment and collaboration from all parties, including future leaders," he said at the Bandung Menanam Volume 6 event in Kanhay, Cibiru.

In the event which was attended by various elements of society and stakeholders, tree planting was carried out simultaneously in several sub-districts in KBU.

Koswara targets two more tree planting activities in December 2024 and January 2025.

"Through this action, we hope that all parties have the same commitment to preserve the KBU."

"It's not only about today, but also the legacy we leave to our children and grandchildren," he said.