Faculty of Forestry UGM has conducted a tree planting event named as Trees For Solidarity with the local people of South Blora in Central Java to support forest optimation and improve the welfare of the local people.
As many as 4,000 seeds were sown in Getas-Ngandong Special Forest, which is a development area on forest education and training for UGM academic community. The forest lies in 146-147 Kudu hamlet, Ngeblak village, Kradenan district, Blora city.
Vice-Dean of Faculty of Forestry, Dr. Rohman, said the planting was done on Sunday (18/3) in the forest area, homeyards, and the riverbanks of Bengawan Solo.
“There are 4,000 trees to be planted, consisting of rose apple, crystal (Psidium guajava), longan, pines, and stinky bean,” he said on Tuesday (20/3).
Rohman said the project in Nglebak village was a programme of the Getas-Ngandong forest implemented by UGM. Previously, it was a teak forest which did not benefit the society much.
“We will plant teak tree at a maximum of 50 percent and the rest with other trees to increase the welfare of the local people,” he said.
Through this programme, he continued, UGM asked all to cultivate the forest better. On Getas-Ngandong forest, UGM has been authorised by the government to manage as much as 10,901 hectares.
Attending the event were Deputy Regent of Blora, H Arief Rohman, Assistant to Regional Secretary, H Setyo Edy, Head of Environment Agency, Dewi Tedjowati, Head of Economic division, Rudatiningsih, and chief of Kradenan village, Sutarso. There were also 75 students in attendance.
Arief Rohman thanked the Faculty that had contributed the trees and managed the forest. He hoped this would help the local people in terms of poverty alleviation, unemployment, and social gap.
Arief added the project was in line with the vision and mission of the regency to develop their region further as it lies in an isolated place that is vulnerable to poverty.
“With the concept of special forest, UGM has contributed to the effort to increase the people’s welfare who live near the forests. We hope in the future the tree planting would benefit the local people,” he said.