IPB plants teak trees

IPB plants teak trees

BOGOR: The School of Forestry at the Bogor Institute of
Agriculture (IPB) planted 2,500 teak trees at the Walat Mountain
forest near Hegarmanah village, Sukabumi, on Sunday.

IPB rector, Amman Wirakartakusumah, said planting the trees
was expected to help local farmers generate additional income.

"We hope they can harvest the teak leaves in the next two or
three years. Currently, the price of one teak leaf at the
traditional market is Rp 10 (US cents 0.98)," he said.

Dean of the school of forestry, Yusuf Sudohadi, said the 359-
hectare forest had been useful to the locals as they could use
the wood for making fire, use leaves and mushroom for cooking and
source water. There are also various herbs to make jamu (herbal
medicine).

The Walat Mountain forest is an experimental forests for IPB
students and lecturers.

Each of the 2000 families involved will earn an estimated Rp
10 million profit, equal to 65 percent of the earnings when the
trees are finally felled in 12 to 15 years. Of the remaining
profit, 25 percent goes to the IPB and 10 percent to the village.
-- JP