Planning green patch: towards an ecological place of Ciliwung Condet

Abstract

This paper illustrates a program to plan a green patch of Ciliwung river landscape through a participatory process involving the community in Condet, East Jakarta. It is believed that native knowledge of the river and the riparian, which can only be revealed by the locals, becomes significant to understanding the dynamics of the place and to generating a masterplan. Through interviews, focus group discussion and participatory mapping, their everyday experience in utilizing the landscape can be recognized. Instead of concrete revetment and heightened levees along the river, native vegetation is identified and developed, as it is considered as key in restoring the ecosystem and generating programs on the landscape. The landscape will display the natural process and at the same time provide a place for social and recreational activities. By utilizing the native knowledge of the people, the masterplan of the green patch becomes more responsive and fit to the ecological, cultural, and social research. Fostering the commitment and active role of the community in every phase of the planning turns into an important aspect to ensuring the implementation and sustainability of the program. This program will support the aim of the community and will strengthen the identity of Condet as a site for ecology, and will eventually support the conservation program in Ciliwung Condet.