Kemenko PMK and ISI Yogyakarta Plant Trees to Commemorate 20th Anniversary of Yogyakarta Earthquake

Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture (Kemenko PMK) and the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Yogyakarta carried out a tree-planting activity as part of the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the Yogyakarta Earthquake at the ISI Yogyakarta campus on Friday.

The planting of srikaya and almond saplings was conducted symbolically as a form of respect for the ISI Yogyakarta campus, which was one of the areas most affected during the Yogyakarta Earthquake on 27 May 2006.

Assistant Deputy for Disaster Risk Reduction at Kemenko PMK, Andre Notohamijoyo, stated that this tree-planting is expected to maintain the collective memory of the academic community and society regarding disaster risks in the Yogyakarta region.

“Symbolic tree-planting is a form of respect for the ISI campus, which was one of the areas most affected during the 2006 Jogja Earthquake. It is hoped that this planting will preserve the collective memory of the academic community and society regarding existing disaster risks,” he said.

According to him, the srikaya and almond saplings planted are the result of cultivation by the ISI Yogyakarta academic community and hold both ecological and economic value for society.

“These srikaya and almond saplings are the result of cultivation by the ISI Yogyakarta academic community and have high ecological and economic value. It is hoped that they can continue to be developed in the campus environment and surrounding communities,” he said.

He stated that tree-planting also plays an important role in disaster risk reduction efforts because it strengthens soil layers, preserves water resources, and enhances ecosystem resilience.

“Trees are a symbol of the resilience of natural ecosystems in an area as well as a symbol of disaster resilience,” he said.

Andre mentioned that the main message in the 20th anniversary commemoration of the Jogja Earthquake is to build a shared understanding of the importance of disaster risk reduction in the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) and Central Java.

“Disaster risk reduction is the key to building community resilience in facing disasters,” he said.

The event was also supported by the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of DIY, PT Taman Wisata Candi (TWC) Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko or InJourney Destination Management (IDM), as well as “Emergency Disaster Risk Reduction” (EDRR).