Visiting an Oasis in Makassar
The concrete jungle in Makassar has trapped the city in a metropolitan gloom. There is almost no green space people can use to drive away their urban sorrows. Almost…
Mega, Ocan and Ruri, all 20, sat comfortably on the wooden bridge amid the lush mangrove forest by the sea. The three young ladies were enjoying the sunset view on Wednesday (11/9/2019).
The sun slowly turned bright orange. It glimmered as the sky’s blue color faded away into the dusk. The attraction of colors on the horizon was candy to the eyes.
Several times, the three took pictures with their pocket cameras and cell phones. Most of the time, however, they stayed silent while enjoying the stunning vista.
“It’s hard to find scenes like this in Makassar. It’s not bad to drive away fatigue,” Ocan said.
Ocan was not being overly dramatic. Natural green spaces like what she and her two friends were enjoying that dusk at the Lantebung Mangrove Ecotourism area were rare sights in Makassar, South Sulawesi. Rapid urban development in eastern Indonesia’s largest city has left almost no green space for locals to enjoy.
The Lantebung Mangrove Ecotourism spot is like an oasis amid Makassar’s arid urban center. The mangrove preservation was initiated by locals in Lantebung hamlet, Bira subdistrict, Tamalanrea district, in 2017.
The 30-hectare mangrove forest on Makassar’s northern shore was located 16 kilometers from the downtown area, near the Parangloe toll gate on Ir Sutami toll road. Despite being located not far from the city center, scenes inside the mangrove forest look like those of a remote hinterland area. Peaceful, lovely and soothing.
Visitors can journey through the lush mangrove forest by walking on the colorful wooden bridge, which extends onto the beach. Two genera of mangroves flourish in the area, namely Rhizophora and Avicennia or api-api.
Apart from mangrove and sunset, visitors can also witness storks chattering. As the day turns into night, the storks fly away from the mangrove forest to who knows where.
It feels like there is no other place to relax and learn about mangrove Makassar, other than in Lantebung. The area must be preserved and even extended, if possible.
“It feels like there is no other place to relax and learn about mangrove Makassar, other than in Lantebung. The area must be preserved and even extended, if possible,” said visitor Masri Tajuddin Ros.
Entrance fee into Lantebung is very cheap at Rp 3,000 (US 21 cents) per person.
Lantebung Mangrove Ecotourism Network chair and preservation initiator Saraba, 56, said that the mangrove forest brought economic benefit for locals and protected the coastal hamlet from strong winds and waves. “We will strive to expand the mangrove area,” Saraba said.
City forest
Another option to escape the hustle and bustle of Makassar is the campus of Hasanuddin University, also in Tamalanrea district. The campus, designed with a green concept in mind, serves as a “city forest” for Makassar’s 1.5 million residents.
Upon entering the campus gate, you will be immersed in a lush and soothing atmosphere. Green space covers 90 percent of the campus’ 220-hectare area.
Apart from trees and parks, there is a fruit garden and a spotted deer (Axis axis) breeding area. Two huge lakes are situated on both sides of the campus’ access road. Wide pedestrian walk with benches and gazebos to relax put the cherry on top.
When I am not swamped with work, I always cycle here every morning. I think this is the best [cycling] spot in Makassar as it is calm and cool.
Locals can enjoy the forest inside Hasanuddin University. Many use it for exercising, including running, walking and cycling on the campus’ four-kilometer ring road, especially in the morning and all days on weekends.
“When I am not swamped with work, I always cycle here every morning. I think this is the best [cycling] spot in Makassar as it is calm and cool,” Makassar resident Aswin Sudarmin, 25, said.
Hasanuddin University communication director Suharman Hamzah said that the university would remain committed to keeping the place green. “We have a campus development masterplan that will not disrupt the green spaces,” he said.
Construction of more buildings, for instance, will be done without cutting down trees. “We are planning a multilevel parking building to avoid disrupting vegetation,” Suharman said.
Apart from Lantebung and Hasanuddin University, Karebosi Field is another popular oasis in Makassar. With an area of 11.29 hectares in the city center, Karebosi is popular open green space among locals. Almost every morning and afternoon, many exercise there.
Karebosi has a 700-meter running track circling its three soccer fields. The track is well shaded by trees. The field also has facilities for soccer, baseball, softball, basketball and volleyball.
Makassar actually has several other open green spaces. Makassar Environment Agency data shows that only 13 percent of the city’s 176-square-kilometer area is open green space. This is far below the ideal 30 percent.
Triyatni Martosenjoyo, head of the Architecture Planning Lab of Hasanuddin University’s School of Engineering, said it was time for the government to act firmly on spatial planning. Not being mindful of construction projects that reduce open green spaces will only make Makassar uncomfortable.
Makassar Environment Agency acting head Iskandar said the city would increase open green spaces to at least 15 percent by 2020. Due to limited land, this has to be done little by little.