EcoTourism Class -- About Kampung 99 Perphonan, Depok

Name: Sahasrakirana Narendradhipa

NIM: 2011240011

Class: EcoTourism

Lecturer: Ms.Derinta.

Do you often feel cramped and stressful trying to deal with the polluted hot  air temperatures in the metropolitan city of Jakarta? Try to visit Kampung 99 Perpohonan/Village 99 trees which is located at Jl. KH. Muhasan II, Kelurahan Meruyung, Kecamatan Limo, Depok 16515.

STP Sahid's PBU-7 Usaha Pariwisata Class made two trips down to Village 99 trees to explore and talked with Eddy Djamaluddin Suaidy (fondly called Abi). The green-minded man who created Village 99. 

About 20 years ago, a man by the name of Eddy Djamaluddin Suaidy (fondly called Abi) used to live at Cilandak, South Jakarta. He was washing his car at night and was shocked to see the car full of white to black dust and greasy the next morning. It occurred to him that is the air we breathe every day by him, his family and those around him. Since then his intent to seek a place to pour a healthy concept. These principles are then developed into a culture that is applied in a residential area called Kampung 99 trees.

In 1989, Abi and family bought the land that used to be a barren wasteland with an area of ​​500m2 on the edge of the river irrigation in the Meruyung Limo region, Depok and began to build the togetherness cultural and family. Summer temperatures in this region can reach 35 degrees Celsius. 5 large Rengas trees decades-old attracted the attention of Abi in this land which the atmosphere became very quiet and shady. Until now the tree is still standing strong and well maintained. Village 99 is inhabited by a community of about 20 families related to Edi Jamaludin.. These communities of families can be sensed among the grove of trees they planted. From the reason of "they need to eat;" gardening, cultivate fish, raising cattle, goats, ducks, chickens, horses, and deer began in the Village 99.

 The goal of planting 10 trees each day. Not unexpectedly the formerly barren land can be transformed into lush with trees in a short time. There are trees from white oak, teak, banyan, Rengas, bintaro, amber, mahogany, cinnamon, eucalyptus, kopo, tamarind, rosewood, ketapang, chiral, rubber, maja, ebony, wicker, nyamplung, puspa, putat, zenith and many other rare trees!  

The area of ​​land previously temperature 35 ° C, is now a cool temperature around 28-30 ° C and a fertile land that can be planted back to normal again, no flooding and landslides.

This place is designed in such a way, so that visitors get the atmosphere is really different. Similarly, the activity program.  Such as fishing while enjoying the fresh air with no pollution and the atmosphere of a noisy city, or collecting the leaves and dry stalks or white teak seeds that are scattered around the village 99. Dried stems and leaves that are collected will be used as compost fertilizer, seeds are white teak tree seedlings will be planted. Another activity that could be done here is to see the fish breeding ponds and also farms sheep and cattle in the village area 99 trees and at the ranch, how to milk the cow, cut goat's hair and also how to make fertilizer is taught!

Village 99 also has residential houses made ​​of wood base. Wooden house was chosen because of its friendship with the earthquake.  "Kalau gempa, kayu pakai salam dulu sebelum jatuh, tapi kalau tembok, tidak pakai salam" (Roughly translated: During earthquake, wood shakes before falling down as if it is greeting us beforehand whereas bricks/walls just falls immediately.) - Says Mr Eddy Djamaluddin Suaidy.

These Wooden house names was taken from the Latin name of plants 99 trees in the village, namely:Gmelina home, Prunus home, Tectona home, Cinnamon home, Palm home and many more.

From the concept "Creating Life" turned into a beautiful Tourism masterpiece called Kampung 99 Perpohanan/99 Tree's Village that helps educate people and help understand more about the Ecosystem, Global Warming and the solution with an introduction of 3R: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Waste segregation and composting, Biogas and Alternative Energy (Hydro Electric power and solar cells) as well as medicinal plants.