Mayor Of Bogor Asks Botanical Gardens To Stop Night Tour

BOGOR - Bogor Mayor Bima Arya asked the manager of the Bogor Botanical Gardens (KRB) to stop operating night tours with lights or glow at the KRB until there are research results from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and IPB University.

The request was conveyed by Bima Arya at the Bogor City Hall after a dialogue with the KRB manager from PT Mitra Natura Raya (MNR).

Bima Arya conveyed to the KRB manager that there was a letter from botanists, former KRB leaders, who expressed objections to the planned night tour operation in the plant conservation area.

Bima Arya asked BRIN and IPB University to conduct a scientific study related to night tourism in KRB that utilizes floodlights, it is feared that it could disturb the habitat of plants and existing ecosystems.

"The night tour will be stopped until there is a study by BRIN and IPB University experts. The results of this scientific study are very important as a basis for deciding whether the night tour can be operated or not," he said, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, September 28.

Bima Arya also assigned the Head of the Environmental Service, Deny Wismanto, to help coordinate BRIN and IPB, to carry out the study.

"Whatever the answer from BRIN and IPB, we will communicate again with PT MNR. In principle, we want to make sure everything goes according to the character of Bogor City and the potential that exists in KRB," he said.

Previously, five former heads of KRB, made an open letter to address the night tour that will be operated by the KRB manager, namely PT MNR.

The intended night tour is a glow tour, which is a light game destination with trees in the background. This glow tour is considered to be able to disrupt the lives of pollinating animals and insects in KRB.

The five former KRB leaders were Prof. Dr. Made Sri Prana (1981-1983), Prof. Dr. Usep Soetisna (1983-1987), Dr. Ir Suhirman (1990-1997), Prof. Dr. Dedy Darnaedi (1997-2003), and Dr. Irawati. (2003-2008).

The open letter was addressed to the Main Secretary of BRIN, Plt. Director of BRIN Research and Innovation partnership, Plt. Director of the management of the BRIN Scientific Collection, Plt. Head of the BRIN Conservation Research Center office, and President Director of PT MNR, dated 20 September 2021.