The tree-pruning campaign carried out by the Central Jakarta Parks and Urban Forest Agency, known locally as Suku Dinas Pertamanan dan Hutan Kota (Tamhut), reflects a preventive approach to urban safety amid increasingly erratic weather. From early to mid-January 2026, officials pruned 367 trees considered vulnerable to collapse across seven districts. The effort underscores how routine maintenance has become a frontline defense against the risks posed by heavy rain and strong winds. In a dense metropolitan area, falling trees are not a minor inconvenience but a recurring public safety concern.
Head of the Central Jakarta Parks and Urban Forest Agency, Mila Ananda, explained that the operation focused on preventing trees from falling or shedding large branches during storms. Of the total trees handled, 22 were cut down entirely because they were already decayed beyond recovery. The remaining work consisted of varying degrees of pruning, adjusted to each tree’s condition. This selective approach signals an attempt to balance safety with environmental preservation.
According to agency data, 110 trees underwent heavy pruning, 172 received moderate trimming, and 63 were lightly pruned. These trees were located in public parks, green corridors, and residential neighborhoods, areas where falling debris could directly endanger residents. The scale of the operation suggests that risk is spread evenly across different types of urban space. It also highlights how green infrastructure requires constant attention, not just symbolic protection.
Despite these efforts, Central Jakarta still recorded nine fallen trees and seven cases of broken branches by mid-January. This reality reinforces the urgency behind the agency’s instructions for mobile monitoring and routine inspections at the subdistrict level. Extreme weather, once considered seasonal, is increasingly unpredictable and persistent. In that context, proactive tree management has become less about aesthetics and more about safeguarding daily urban life.
Alexander Jason – Redaksi
