The 'aren' tree

The 'aren' tree

From Kompas

The Dec. 13 issue of Kompas contained the sad news that the sugar palm (arenga pinata or aren tree) is not cultivated in West Java.

This is true in most of the province. However, the Yayasan Mandiri (an NGO in Padasuka, Cianjur) has cultivated the aren tree since 1989.

The effort is supported by, among others, the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program managed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The population considers the tree nature's gift and entrust its cultivation to nature. The ripe aren fruit is eaten by civets which cannot digest it properly; aren trees expand following the droppings of civets.

The foundation endeavors to encourage the local population to plant aren seedlings, to replace old and sick trees and to take care of young trees to ensure the population's livelihood.

Aren seedlings are planted on hill slopes, so that apart from the fruit, sugar and fiber, the trees prevent erosion of the soil.

The Padasuka community is now exporting aren sugar to Japan, Germany and Britain.

SAMSUDIN BERLIAN

Information Assistant UNDP

Jakarta