Japan replants trees in N. Sumatra

Japan replants trees in N. Sumatra

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Japanese parliament members pledged more
assistance on Tuesday to the reforestation program in North
Sumatra through the planting of tens of thousands of trees over
the next five years.

The pledge was made during a meeting between 35 members of the
Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly, Mizuha Mayor Ishisuka Koueman and
North Sumatra Governor T. Rizal Nurdin at the latter's office,
Medan.

Chairman of the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly Mita Toshiya
declined to mention the amount of the assistance, saying the
funds were collected voluntarily from each of the Japanese
parliamentarians.

This year, they will plant thousands of pinus and macadamia
trees on four hectares of land in the area of Sipiso-piso, Karo
regency, and in Parapat district, Simalungun regency.

Similar trees were planted by them last year on a three-
hectare plot of land also in Sipiso-piso.

"We will assist reforestation in North Sumatra. It is an
international issue. We should be aware of this to protect
nature. It's our problem jointly," Toshiya told Tuesday's
meeting. --JP