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