Ministers launch tree planting program

YOGYAKARTA: To mark the prelaunch of the National Movement on Forest and Land Rehabilitation (GNRHL), five ministers symbolically planted trees on the shoulder of a road in Yogyakarta.

They are Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim, Minister of Forestry M. Prakoso, Minister of National Education Malik Fajar and Minister of Resettlement and Regional Infrastructure Soenarno.

Accompanied by officials from the regional administration and municipality, they first headed to a tree nursery in Dusun Jari, Wonosari subdistrict in Gunungkidul regency and planted trees in Karang Mojo village. After the ceremony, the ministers and their entourage went to Wanagama forest in Gunungkidul and held a dialog with members of the community there.

Head of the Forestry Information Center Tachrir Fathoni said that three million hectares of forest had been rehabilitated last year by planting 168,830,907 trees.

In 2004, the center is targeting an area of 500,000 hectares, especially along rivers to be rehabilitated.

The GNRHL program will be announced on Jan. 21. - JP