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