TREE PLANTING CRUCIAL FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS by Fardah

 Jakarta, Nov 29, 2016 (Antara) - The World Commission on Sustainable Development Report entitled "Our Common Future" has reminded that the quality of life for the future of world's children depends on the decisions taken today.

       "We borrow environmental capital from future generations with no intention or prospect of repaying. We act as we do, because we can get away with it. The future generations do not vote; they have no political or financial power; they cannot challenge our decisions, "the report, issued 35 years ago, said.

       President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has carried out an action toward sustainable development to secure the next generations' needs when he led a tree planting movement in Tasikharjo Village, Jenu sub-district, Tuban District, East Java Province, on Nov 28, 2016.

        "In fact when we plant trees, it means we plant prayers, we plant hopes, (and we) plant our works for survival of the future generations," Jokowi said during the commemoration of Indonesian Tree Planting Day.

         Ignoring the sustainability of the nature would trigger disasters such as floods and landslides in various regions.

        Indonesia has experienced the consequences of not preserving the nature, such as haze resulting from burning of forests and floods resulting from cutting down the trees.

        He cited major flooding in Bandung and Garut in West Java Province as an example of conversion of forest area into farming and residential areas, as well as mining and industrial areas.

        "So, eventually, it (disaster) occurred. It's our task to preserve and take care of the nature," Jokowi remarked.

         President Jokowi on the occasion planted a teak tree to mark the beginning of an endeavor to set a world record of planting 238,000 trees within one hour.

          "Let¿s us all plant trees simultaneously within this one hour," the head of state said while pushing a button to mark the beginning of the world record's process.

          The president was accompanied by First Lady Iriana Jokowi on this occasion.

          The simultaneous tree planting movement is aimed at making it to the Guinness Book of Records.

          Some 5,500 local villagers, members of the Anugrah Bumi Hijau Producer Cooperatives (Koprabuh) and scout members planted 238,000 trees within one hour.

           Adjudicator Swapnil Mahesh Dangarikar of the Guinness Book of Records presented a certificate of most planted trees in one hour to the chairman of Koprabuh, Yohanis Cianes Walean.

         "Congratulation, you have succeeded in reaching the top level," Mahesh said.

        The record beats the previous record of 223 thousand trees planted in the Philippines, according to Environmental Affairs and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya.

         A certificate of the world record title was presented to Koprabuh chairman Yohanis Cianes Waelan, who was accompanied by Siti Nurbaya.

         "I hope that this is not just a ceremonial activity, but it is a concrete action for the benefit of the public's economy," the minister said.

         Jokowi lauded tree planting activities for community forests, managed by both private parties and cooperatives.

         "We should not give large concessions entirely to corporations. If it could be beneficial for the people, then by any means, go for it," he said.

         When corporations fail to pass on the benefits to the public, then social forest management concessions will be given to cooperatives or private entities, Jokowi further said.

         "I believe that this model can be followed and I will be sure to check it. We hope that it could be a good model to be explored in other provinces and regions," he stated.

          The government will support programs that incorporate farmers, fisherman and cooperatives in managing large-scaled economic schemes, he continued.

          "I would like to incorporate farmers, fisherman and cooperatives, and without a model involving them it would be challenging for small entities to grow. It needs to be done on a large economic scale," he remarked.

          He also advised his ministers to support the program so that they receive the tangible economic benefits and improve the economic movement.

          "I have warned the cooperatives minister to involve the cooperatives, and I have also said to the maritime and fisheries minister to incorporate fishermen. The same goes for the agriculture minister whom I have advised to incorporate farmers," he reiterated.

          He will keep an eye on the program and it will be evaluated in the next 3 to 4 months to a year, the president assured.

         If the evaluation shows positive results in a way that it affects the economy, it will then be implemented in other cities and provinces in Indonesia.

            "I see this as a well initiated format and I will continue to follow its progress, because there is an environmental value to it, but on the other side, there is also a community value and that can also be beneficial for the people's economy," he stated.

          Every month people can obtain earnings from maintaining the trees and again during harvest season, he explained.

          "This is the kind of Pancasila (five ideologies) oriented economic processes that we would like to explore more," he concluded.

           In the meantime, tree planting is viewed as a solution to mitigate the  effects of climate change, because trees can remove carbon from the atmosphere.

        Indonesia, which is known as the lung of the world for having the world's largest forest area after Brazil and Congo, has set a target to plant billions of trees to rehabilitate the forest area and re-green the country's arid regions.

         The massive tree-planting movement is also part of the country's efforts to fulfill its pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 29 percent from projected levels in 2030.  
    The government has claimed that over the past six years, the Indonesian public has planted at least 7.3 billion trees. ***3***
(f001/INE)
EDITED BY INE    

(T.SYS/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 29-11-2016