Organizations start upstream tree-planting initiatives

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor, Jakarta

More and more organizations and companies are paying attention not only to financial results but also to social and environmental outcomes.

Bulb producer General Electrics (GE) Indonesia and Buddhist foundation Pandita Sabha Buddha Dharma (YPSBDI) have been organizing and carrying out tree-planting campaigns in upstream regions like Puncak and Cibubur in Bogor.

GE Indonesia brought together 200 volunteers and 30 students from state elementary school SDN Percontohan 12 in Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta, to plant 500 trees in Cibubur campground Saturday.

GE Volunteer chairman Hasto Kristyono said the activity was part of the company's ECOmmunity corporate social responsibility program.

"This (tree planting) is not the only activity in our ECOmmunity program. This year, we are committed to assisting SDN Percontohan with the Adiwiyata program, both technically and financially."

The Adiwiyata program, initiated by the State Ministry for the Environment and the Education Ministry, aims to promote environmental awareness in schools.

Hasto said GE Volunteers provided environmental education and awareness training for both teachers and students.

The YPSBDI is also supporting water conservation and tree-planting activities in upland areas, as well as restoring water flows in some catchments.

Hundreds of its members and 40 students from private junior high school SMP Terbuka in Cisarua planted 500 trees in Megamendung village, Puncak, on Sunday.

Foundation spokesman Gatot Sukarno Adi said it had also launched a campaign on saving water.

"Our members should be aware that the environment and the people are one," Gatot said.

Puncak is one of the main water sources for Jakarta, Bekasi and Depok.

However, housing and development projects have had a devastating impact on upland catchments through altered water flows, pollution and loss of vegetation.

Experts say trees stabilize sloping sites and catch rainfall, improving the quality of groundwater.

Former environment minister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, who attended the launch of the water conservation program, said religious groups and people living near forests could play an important role in protecting the environment.

Environmental damage in Jakarta and neighboring regions has been blamed for the floods that strike the city annually in the rainy season and water shortages during the dry season.

Green areas in the city have also been diminishing due to rapid infrastructure development.

The city administration is aiming to make 9,156 hectares, or 13.94 percent, of Jakarta's 6,000 hectares open and green spaces by 2010.

Environmentalists say it should target 30 percent.

Currently, there are only 5,911 hectares of green areas left, or 9 percent of Jakarta's land area.