Ara's New Initiative: Developers Required to Plant One Tree per House

BANDAR LAMPUNG - The Minister of Housing and Settlement Areas (PKP), Maruarar Sirait or Ara, plans to introduce a policy requiring developers to plant one tree for every housing unit, whether commercial or subsidised. The policy is set to be drafted soon for concrete implementation on the ground. “If I make a policy, every commercial or subsidised house must have one tree planted in front of it by the developer,” Ara stated during a tree-planting event in Kota Baru, Lampung, on Thursday (7/5/2026). The statement was made in front of developers affiliated with the Real Estate Indonesia (REI). She even sought support from the developers for the planned policy and hoped for no rejections. Ara then instructed her staff to prepare the policy draft immediately so it could be implemented swiftly. She emphasised that the regulation would ensure more tangible application without delays. Ara drew an analogy with the Housing Savings Management Agency (BP Tapera), which allocates a target of 350,000 subsidised houses. If one tree is planted per unit, the result would be 350,000 trees. “That would be maximum, not to mention public awareness,” the Gerindra politician continued. When asked about potential sanctions for developers who fail to comply, Ara said she prioritises implementation over punishment. “No need for sanctions, just implement it,” she added. She also urged her staff to draft the regulation on the tree-planting obligation promptly.