Tree planting contest launched by govt

JAKARTA (JP): The office of the State Minister of Environment has initiated a regreening contest in an attempt to rejuvenate the public's interest in the One Million Trees Movement.

Minister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said on Wednesday that his office will grant awards to those individuals and private or government agencies who display an outstanding dedication to planting trees in their areas.

Closing a national meeting on the environment, he said the award is expected to be as prestigious as the Kalpataru award, which the government grants every year to people who make outstanding environmental conservation efforts.

The contest will be open at the district, regency and provincial levels.

"We hope that the awards will help maintain the public's interest in the One Million Trees Movement," he said, referring to a regreening drive initiated by President Soeharto.

He did not say the name of the award to be given but said that it is being set up at the request of President Soeharto, who wants to see more trees planted.

"Everybody should participate and help make the tree planting drive a success," Sarwono quoted Soeharto as saying.

Sarwono also invited the public to register now. The contest, however, is closed to those employed at the Ministry of Forestry, private sector employees in forest-based industries and those in fields related to government regreening programs.

Participants should describe any tree planting activities or regreening programs that they have been a part of in the past five years.

Sarwono's office will announce the winners and present the award on Nov. 5, in coincidence with Flora and Fauna Day.

The One Million Trees Movement was launched in January 1993 by President Soeharto as part of the nation's regreening program. The President instructed each of the 27 provinces in the country to plant one million trees per year.

The campaign officially started with the planting of 1,000 trees at Monas Square Park in Jakarta.

During the closing ceremony of the meeting, Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto presented awards to the five vice-governors whose provinces won this year's clean river contest.

They are the provinces of East Java, Central Java, Lampung, South Sumatra and Jakarta. (16)