Center for Land Resources Studies (PSSL) UGM is developing roof garden to support the greening process and reduce air pollution in Yogyakarta.
"This roof garden can serve as alternative technology to answer the lack of urban land for reforestation and water catchments areas," said Ir. Darmanto, Dip.HE., M.Sc., in a seminar of research development on garden roof, Thursday (8/10), in Wisma MM UGM.
According to Darmanto, roof garden is developed  to answer the need for lack of space, especially in urban areas which are now occupied by residential and office buildings in the province of Yogyakarta Special Region. He said that they were currently developing simple technology for easy application by the community.
"Utilizing the roof of the building at the initial stage may not be perfect, but later they will by combining agriculture and engineering to face the problems of high population, construction, environment and plants," he said.
Dody Kastono, S.P.,M.P., one of PSSL researchers said that roof garden can absorb pollutant gases, reduce city warming and sun radiation up to 80%. It can also reduce the noise level around the garden.
"In addition to giving shade, roof garden can absorb toxic gases," he explained.
He pointed out, bamboo or palm can absorb formaldehyde gas and gasoline while plants daffodils absorb formaldehyde gas and gasoline as well as alcohol and acetone which are produced by paint.
Dody said that making a roof garden, however, is not cheap and special roof construction is needed. The construction of the roof garden should be designed even before the construction of the building. (Public Relations of UGM / Gusti Grehenson)