Otto Soemarwoto:
Thinker and Champion of the Environment

SINCE the 1960s, he has screamed about the critical condition of the Bogor, Puncak, Cipanas, and Cianjur areas. The trees along hills and valleys which have been replaced by luxurious villas will eventually bring disaster to Jakarta. During the 1970s, he had already warned of the danger of the ‘green gold rush’, or widespread deforestation. On the one hand, flooding and landslides will occur during the rainy season. On the other, wells will eventually dry up during the hot season.

He is an expert on environmental issues who refuses to compromise. His unyielding and straightforward attitude often results in confrontation with the power elite. But it does not prevent him from sharing his knowledge with government officials who require information. When he was State Minister for the Environment, Emil Salim acknowledged that Otto was the person to whom he would seek wisdom and knowledge.

Otto shared his decades of experience with Widiarsi Agustina and Rinny Srihartini and recounted his efforts in lobbying so that the issue of the environment is adopted as a basic principle for development in this country.