Public joins environmental campaign
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.