Minister initiates tree-planting program to reduce air pollution

Jakarta, Indonesianpost.com – Minister of State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) Erick Thohir, on Wednesday, commenced a program that aims to plant 100 thousand trees in the hopes of reducing air pollution in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) regions.

The minister said he has instructed all employees of SOEs and encouraged all people, in general, to collectively implement the program through the Satu Orang Satu Pohon (One Person One Tree) Movement.

“This is our concrete action to deal with air pollution issues in Jakarta. I believe that this program will be effective in curbing air pollution if we collaborate,” he noted in a statement received here on Wednesday.

Minister Thohir’s initiative to push for the planting of 100 thousand trees is in line with President Joko Widodo’s instruction to take all workable measures to improve air quality in the capital city.

The president has urged all companies to plant as many trees as possible in their working environments to protect the city and its surroundings from the adverse impacts of air pollution.

Furthermore, Minister Thohir confirmed to have set October 1, 2023, as the targeted completion date for the planting of 100 thousand trees.

The minister also distributed seeds of plants, including fruit trees, to SOE officials and employees to symbolically initiate the mass tree-planting program. The seeds were sent directly from the Megamendung Organic Forest Nursery in Bogor, West Java.

As long as the seeds are still available, all people not only SOE workers can also use the seeds to participate in the program.

Thohir reiterated that the air quality in Jakarta and its surrounding regions has plunged into an alarming condition. Hence, he emphasized the need to spread information on the tree-planting program to attract more people to participate.

“Let us support this greening movement that obliges all SOE employees to plant one tree. Let us love the environment. Together, we can,” Thohir noted.

Tree-planting activities are believed to be one of the concrete measures that can be taken for curbing air pollution since such activities will result in the expansion of green open spaces that can absorb air pollutant particles, such as dust and harmful gases, and provide clean oxygen to people.