Foreign firms to plant thousands of trees in Indonesia

Jon Afrizal and Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post 29 Nov 08;

Foreign companies have announced plans to grow thousands of trees in environmentally damaged areas in East Tanjung Jabung regency, Jambi, and in Cilacap regency, Central Java.

A total of 30,000 hectares will be planted with mangrove seeds, head of the forest development division of Jambi Forestry Agency, Agus Rizal, said Friday.

"PT Yamamoto from Japan is the investor in this project, while PT Invest is the contractor," Agus said, adding the project, which will begin February next year, was funded entirely by the investor with the regency providing the location only.

Agus said the administration had become interested in the idea of replanting eroded areas with mangroves after learning of the success of a similar project by PT Yamamoto in Batam some months ago.

"We decided to plant mangroves in coastal areas to prevent further erosion because mangroves can block sea water from crashing onto the beach," Agus said.

Agus added that the investor would plant mangrove seeds across the area and would hand over the project to the administration in 30 years.

The administration is still waiting for a permit from the Home Ministry to carry out the project.

"We will immediately start the project as soon as we receive the permit," Agus said.

Coastal erosion has had a great impact on coconut farmers, who have lost many of their coconut trees.

Indonesian Forum of Environment executive director (Walhi) Arif Munandar said that the project should benefit local people.

Any money received from the project should also be allocated for the good of the local people, he added.

Meanwhile, in conjunction with "Tree Planting Day", cement producer PT Holcim Indonesia Tbk, in coordination with local people, planted 4,000 trees, including teak, mahogany, Terminalia cattapa and albasia trees, in several areas in Cilacap regency.

The company is committed to greening the environment, especially in Cilacap, general manager Lilik Unggul Raharjo told the press.

Lilik added that the company had already planted more than 166,000 trees in the company complex and on Nusakambangan island.

"Our target is to plant at least 196,000 trees by the end of this year," said Lilik.

The company previously planted Nusakambangan native trees, such as Sirsidah, Glodogan, Sawo Kecik, guava and mango, Lilik added.