IPB regreens Cihideung Ilir

BOGOR: Students from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture planted more than 2,000 seedlings around a water catchment area during the weekend in a project to regreen Cihideung Ilir village in Ciampeat.

"We also designate the village as the center of rainforest diversity under the supervision and management of local residents," Forestry Studies dean Cecep Kusmana, who leads the project, said.

The project received funding from vehicle manufacturer PT Toyota Manufacturing Indonesia.

IPB plans to hand over about 22,000 seedlings to residents who will plant them around their houses and riverbanks.

The 170-hectare village is occupied by 7,000 families who live by 50-hectares of paddy fields and plantations nearby.

"We want to demonstrate that establishing a forest doesn't need a vast area," Cecep said.

Meanwhile, a Toyota manager, Irwan Priyanto, expressed hope that the environmental project could help improve the people's welfare. -- JP