Green Open Spaces in Indonesian cities: schisms between law and practice green governance

• Main Author: Werner, Cosima
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Pazifische Studien e.V. 2014-03-01
• Series: Pacific Geographies
• Subjects: Green Open Spaces; Law of Spatial Planning 2007; Indonesia
• Online Access: http://www.pacific-geographies.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2017/06/PG41_werner.pdf

International organizations consider Green Open Spaces (GOSs) to be an indispensable asset for the health of urban inhabitants. Indonesian cities consist of about 9% of these spaces, even though the Law of Spatial Planning (SPL) 2007 of the Republic of Indonesia stipulates 30%. Massive cleavages are obvious between the international target of min. 9 m²/capita GOS, the adaptation and translation of it into the SPL 2007, and finally the real practice on the local level of increasing the amount of GOSs. The question follows: what are the challenges facing the realization of GOSs? Eighteen interviews have been conducted with representatives from the national government, local governments and NGOs in Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Semarang. In planning GOSs, a long-term is necessary but contrary to business interests and the short-term consumer preferences of the powerful modern middle-class. Nevertheless, examples of reducing the oppositions to the mandated regulations and requirements do exist.