Jambi regreens peat moss forest

JAMBI, Jambi: As part of efforts to preserve the environment, the Jambi provincial government, in cooperation with an oil and gas company, is regreening some 350 hectares of peat moss forest in East Tanjungjabung regency.

The forest is being regreened after the area was explored by an oil and gas company PT Petrochina International Jabung Ltd.

The reforestation process will be completed in December this year, said secretary to the Jambi provincial administration A. Chalik Saleh. They planted several species of trees, including the pulai tree (Alstonia scholaris), said Chalik.

Raflin Lubis, the spokesman of PT Petrochina, said that besides the pulai tree, the company would also plant jelutung rawa trees (dyera costulata). Both the pulai and jelutung rawa adapt well to peat moss areas. -- JP