The Province of Yogyakarta Special Region still lacks of forests. Ideally, the forested area is 30% of the total area, while Yogyakarta has only about 9% of the government’s forest. If community forest is included, the total only reaches some 23%.
"This problem can be solved with the promotion of reforestation by the community, namely community forests," said Satyawan Pudyatmoko, a lecturer of Natural Resources Conservation, Faculty of Forestry of Universitas Gadjah Mada, on Tuesday (1/12). This is related to the agenda of the 46th anniversary of Faculty of Forestry. Besides increasing the number of forests, tree planting can actually support the timber industry. Moreover, recently, 45 new timber companies have been founded, so the demands for timber also increase.
The reforestation can reduce carbon emissions. Indonesia is considered as the biggest carbon emitter after the United States and China. This makes the President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, promised the world that Indonesia will reduce carbon emissions up to 26% until 2020. "We hope that carbon reduction roadmap becomes immediately clear," added Satyawan. Meanwhile, the climate change meeting in Copenhagen will be held from 7-12 December 2009.
On the other hand, in order to strengthen implementation at the national level, UGM will arrange a meeting between Minister of Environment and Minister of Forestry, Monday (7 / 12). The two ministries are expected to lead the reduction of carbon emissions in Indonesia . "We take the initiative so that they sit together to discuss the roadmap in Indonesia," said Dr. Ir. Sri Nugroho Marsoem, M.Sc., one of the persons in charge of the ministerial meeting.
Apart from talks on carbon emissions reduction roadmap nationally, the meeting is expected to become the forum for tree planting campaign in individual scale. Marsoem conveyed that planting trees can also give additional economic values. An example is the sengon trees that can be harvested every five year for a price of up to 900 thousand rupiah/tree. In July-August or early dry season, sengon leaves can be used for animal feed,
The additional industrial value is the use of timber waste for fuel for bricks and roof tiles industries. "The use of industrial timber waste will reduce the potential of forest logging," said Marsoem. Meanwhile, the more trees can reduce heavy winds to occur as they will reduce temperature differences.
Related to the anniversary, a fun walk around UGM compound and alumni meeting in which Prof. Soekotjo as HB IX Award recipient will deliver a speech will be done on Sunday, December 6, 2009.