Govt to regreen barren land

PONOROGO, East Java: The administration will regreen 21,000 ha of barren land in Ponorogo under a regreening program to be launched by the forestry ministry at the end of this month, Antara reported.

Budi Warsito, a local spokesman, said here Friday the regreening program included the planting of one million Merak teak trees (Gamelina gradis) in the districts of Salung, Pulung and Badegan.

The project is expected to restore the environment of the area which has in the past been confronted with draught during dry seasons and landslides during rainy seasons.

Up to now, about three million Merak teak trees have been made available for the regreening project. (swe)