Musi River could be saved by Bamboo Trees

Conditions of growing concern Musi River. Abrasion and silting continues on the river's length is about 750 kilometers. In fact, due to damage to the Musi River basin, such as the loss of a number of creeks and forests, making the Musi River overflowed during the rainy and dry season drought.

Bamboo plant, is expected to return the best conditions of the Musi River as the past. How do I?

In order to improve the condition of the Musi River, the company belongs to Indonesia's first fertilizer, planting trees or bamboo betung petung in a number of critical locations such as in Mariana, Banyuasin, Sycamore in Palembang, and along the river Ogan, Ogan Ilir.

"Every three months we continue to plant bamboo trees. I wish we directly bamboo plant a million trees. But we are constrained seeds. Currently bamboo seedlings purchased from a nursery betung bamboo in Yogyakarta. Prices range from USD 5-10 thousand per seed, depending on age, "he said.

Until when planting bamboo trees? "Until the Musi River filled with bamboo trees," said Ismed.

Why bamboo? Ismed also explain other than to accommodate the water, resist abrasion, curb pollution, and produce oxygen which is good, bamboo can also be used as a center for food and clothing.

"Bamboo shoots is a food that is in demand by local and international communities. Therefore, bamboo shoots is a food that is tasty and has a high antioxidant content, "he said.

While bamboo itself can be processed into raw materials board. "Durability is stronger and more attractive appearance," he said.

If bamboo is actually meets the Musi River, it would encourage a company that manages the bamboo. Bamboo is grown belong to the community, according to the planting site. "So, when produced it is a source of public revenue. Bamboo is also quite planting one time, no cutting plant. Thus, during the production of new planting is not necessary, "he said.

Encourage companies and governments planting bamboo

Ismed realized if the movement to plant bamboo along the Musi River, not only can do it. "Musi River is the length. It takes a lot of costs for tree planting bamboo. We hope that the government and other companies, especially those that utilize the Musi River moved this motion, "said Ismed.

Ismed realized, changes in the environment is not only detrimental to the general public but also the company. Spending growing company, both in terms of the company's operations and the cost of employee health. "Bad neighborhood would cause human health declined, so that health care costs are borne by the company to grow," he said.

Damage to the condition of the Musi River, such as siltation, causing PT. Pusri Palembang experienced problems in sending their production boat. "Shallow Musi River which is very detrimental to us. Musi River dredging costs are very large. Thus, preventive measures are much cheaper and profitable, "he said.

Musi river shallow and suffered abrasion can be returned to a state as usual with bamboo tree planting. Photo: Taufik Wijaya

Move the industry in the Musi River watershed

Hadi Jatmiko of the Indonesian Environmental Forum (WALHI) South Sumatra assess what PT. Pusri Palembang be appreciated. "But, it is only a small part of the recovery effort Musi River. Therefore, the issue on the Musi River is not only superficiality, but also pollution and pollution, which causes river biota threatened, "he said.

Moreover, the bamboo tree planting movement is not balanced with what was happening in the Musi River watershed. "We are planting a tree, at the same time a few tens of felled trees and swamp dumped or disposed of so many tons of waste," said Hadi.

Thus, in addition to greening along the Musi River watershed, said Hadi, the government must undertake efforts to transfer the industry away from the Musi River. "A number of dirty industries, such as coal mining should be stopped," he said.