Plant trees to save environment

Plant trees to save environment

JAKARTA: The government has called on the public to take an
active role in protecting the country's forests from destruction,
which has affected 2.1 million hectares per year.

Every citizen would have to plant 10 trees to 100 trees in
their lifetime to compensate for the lost forests, director
general for land rehabilitation at the Ministry of Forestry
Suhardi said on Monday.

"If people did that, they would not only protect natural
resources and the environment, but also improve the economy," he
said. "As soon as the public had this awareness, the government
would only become a facilitator, while the public would take all
the initiatives."

Suhardi was publicizing the government's annual regreening
campaign and conservation program, which opened in Bengkulu on
Nov. 14. --JP