Universitas Gadjah Mada received 500 Red Meranti tree seedlings (Shorea leprosula) from PT. Astra International on Monday (20/2). The submission made symbolically by planting a tree by the Chairman of AFCO (Astra Affiliated Company) Yogyakarta, Abed Mesah, and UGM Rector, Prof. Ir. Sudjarwadi, M.Eng., Ph.D., followed by a number of officials from both parties in South Conservation Area of UGM Economics and Business Diploma Campus.
Abed Mesah said the tree seedlings and tree planting program is one of the efforts conducted by Astra to preserve the environment. In 2012, nationally Astra has a target to plant 550,000 trees.
"We hope with the aid and the planting of these trees, Astra and UGM can continue to work together and also care about the environment and able to support government programs to achieve 1 billion trees," he explained.
The Rector expressed his gratitude for the aid given by PT. Astra International. He also hoped Astra not only enthusiastically gives seedlings aid to various parties, but also develops motor vehicle products that are safe for the environment. "We hope that Astra could also develop environmentally friendly vehicles," he said.
In the same place, the Director of Maintenance and Asset Management of UGM, Dr. Ing., Singgih Hawibowo, stated that the open land on the South area of Economics and Business Diploma Campus is designed to be a conservation area. This is one of the steps taken by UGM to add greenery land in the campus area.
UGM campus has approximately 198 acres of land. The 30 percent of the area has been allocated for open green spaces. "Thirty percent of the existing open land had been mostly planted. However, adding vegetation in areas that are still empty is necessary," he said.