Ministers launch tree planting program

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