Public joins environmental campaign

Multa Fidrus, Tangerang

In an effort to repair some of the damage along the heavily polluted Cisadane River, Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar has asked industrial firms to plant trees in the area through a "tree bank" set up by the regency's environmental management agency.

Of 250 industrial firms that have promised to donate trees, only two have yet to do so.

"We thank the industrial firms and businessmen for paying attention to the environment. The trees donated by PT Indah Kiat and PT Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) will help restore the damaged ecosystem along the river," Ismet said in a speech.

The regent and Deputy State Minister for the Environment Arie D. D. Djoekardi officiated over the planting of 200,000 trees and a green fun bike ride in the BSD housing estate on Sunday morning.

Hundreds of students from 50 schools in BSD took 50,000 of the donated trees and planted them at their respective schools. The remaining 150,000 trees were planted along Jl. Raya Serpong and the banks of the Cisadane River.

During the event, Ismet also inaugurated the Community of Cisadane Lovers and Pandu Lingkungan, an integrated community empowerment program to improve people's awareness, appreciation and comprehension of environmental issues.

Pandu Lingkungan consists of 60 green activists who have been trained to deal with environmental problems by the Wanadri Foundation in Lembang, West Java.

The organization will focus its work on the restoration of the ecosystem along the river, while also teaching the public about the importance of protecting the environment.

The head of the regency's environmental agency, Deden Sugandhi, said the organization would act as a partner to the agency in dealing with environmental issues.

"Pandu Lingkungan is independent. It can sue the government for its handling of environmental problems or sue the public for damaging the environment," he said.

Later on Sunday, about 1,200 families took part in a fun bike ride. All of the participants were required to collect garbage along the five-kilometer route of the ride.

Each family was given a large plastic bag to collect as much garbage as possible. They exchanged their collected garbage at the finish line for discount coupons for items such as TV sets and mountain bikes.

"This is one step to show the public how to love their environment," BSD spokesman Dhonny Rahajoe said.

Natalie, a 35-year-old resident of BSD, said she came to the event with her husband and two children to enjoy the bike ride and also to help conserve the environment.

"We are not after the prizes. We just want to take part in the program to make our small contribution to environmental conservation."

She added that the green fun bike ride was the first of its kind at BSD and hoped it could become a regular event.