Naila Hayyatsnaini

Amplifying the Reforestation Message with Tantri and Arda: Trees4Trees’ Green Ambassadors

Trees4Trees has taken a new step in broadening its reforestation message by partnering with Tantri Syalindri, lead vocalist of the renowned Indonesian rock band Kotak, and her husband Arda Hatna Danarda, an Indonesian pop singer as green ambassadors. This collaboration aligns with the shared mission of Trees4Trees and Tantri and Arda to promote environmental preservation efforts in Indonesia.

Through this collaboration, the spirit of protecting the environment and Indonesia’s natural resources is expected to reach a wider audience, particularly the younger generation.

Creating Environmental Protection Songs and Raising Awareness Among Fans

As musicians, they have incorporated environmental messages into their songs and performances. In 2015, Tantri and her band, Kotak, released a song titled “Jagalah Bumi” (Protect the Earth) as the soundtrack for a children’s series. Two years later, she collaborated with her bandmate, Chua, the bassist, to create another environmental song in a strong rock style, titled “Hijaukan Bumi” (Green the Earth).

Due to the environmental messages conveyed in their songs, they gained opportunities to be involved in several environmental preservation projects. One involvement was in a tree-planting program to green the roadsides of tollways, initiated by one of Indonesia’s state-owned companies.

Arda, on the other hand, spreads awareness about environmental preservation in his own way. “As musicians, we spread environmental messages through our work. The simplest way I contribute is by actively reminding the audience not to litter and leave garbage at the concert venue,” Arda explained.

Applying Green Action on Their Wedding and Daily Life

Planting trees has always been part of Arda’s life. His mother, who comes from a mountainous region, was familiar with planting and passed this habit to her children. “I’ve been planting trees since I was a kid because my mom taught me how. It became a regular part of our lives,” said Arda. When he married Tantri ten years ago, the couple decided to give tree seedlings to their guests as wedding souvenirs, reflecting their care for the environment and nature.

“Now, ten years later, some of our friends still send us pictures of how tall the trees have grown. It’s incredible to see the growth of something we gave them as a small seedling, and now they are thriving. I’m also grateful that from the little seedlings we gave, then spreading to our friends and acquittance’s home, then creating great impacts by providing the oxygen and shade,” Tantri shared.

Now, their green habits have been introduced to their children. They not only plant various types of trees and plants around their home, but also teach their kids how to do the same. “I believe it’s human nature to enjoy greenery and feel at ease surrounded by plants and trees, connecting with nature. A green environment brings tranquility, and many ideas are born from that kind of space,” said Arda.

Voice Out: Planting Trees for Hopes

In partnership with Trees4Trees, they committed to promoting the message and spirit of reforestation. Over the next three years, they will collaborate with Trees4Trees on digital campaigns to inspire more people to protect their environment, helping the Earth thrive. Arda introduced a symbolic gesture that will align with this partnership campaign—a half-closed hand, reminiscent of a prayer—representing the idea that planting trees is also planting hope for a better future through a healthier planet.

This partnership aims to make a lasting impact by raising awareness and encouraging sustainable practices toward Indonesia’s audience. “We have experienced climate change effects, like extreme heat or heavy rain that leads to flooding. I think witnessing these conditions should prompt us to evaluate ourselves. What have we done to preserve and care for our Earth?” said Tantri.

She also emphasizes that simple actions, like planting trees around our homes, can make a difference. “Planting trees is one of the simplest ways to show our care for the Earth. We can start with our surroundings. But if you don’t have space, you can plant with Trees4Trees. There are plenty of areas out there where we can contribute to reforestation. So, I invite you to help green the Earth for a better life,” Tantri encouraged.

Writer: V. Arnila Wulandani. Photos: Yulianisa Dessenita

#ClimateChange #TantriArda #TantriKotak reforestation

Abah Dayat: Planting the Seeds of a More Sustainable Future

For Abah Dayat, farming is more than a job; it is a passion that has consumed him since he was young. Now 70 years of age, with nine children and 13 grandchildren, he still works the land, planting trees and caring for his livestock. Through a combination of crops and seasonal construction work, he continues to provide for his large family.

Now in his twilight years, Abah’s focus is shifting beyond seasonal harvests to a more sustainable long-term future; ensuring his descendants grow up in a world that is green, clean, and fertile. With support from Better Green and Trees4Trees, Abah is making this dream come true.

Creating shade, shedding light on new opportunities

Abah Dayat lives in Citaman Village, in the Nagreg District of Bandung, where he is a member of a farmers’ collective called Hutan Karya Tani Mandiri Utama. On a plot of land covering 2,800 m2, he has spent years farming cassava, corn, and tobacco. But with a lack of shade, his crops tended to suffer under the equatorial sun.

In search of solutions, Abah joined the Trees4Trees tree-planting program in 2022 and quickly began planting seedlings. The new trees have already had a transformative effect on the landscape, providing shade, fresh air, and helping the soil to retain moisture. The fruits provided by these new trees also offer a new source of income.

“I take care of my plants in a simple way, so they become fertile,” explains Abah. “First I clean away the grass and weeds, then I give them organic fertilizer that comes from the manure of my chickens and goats, then I water them regularly to help them grow.” With this careful and caring approach, Abah has been successful; only a small number of seedlings have failed to take root – the majority have flourished.

Working with nature to provide for people

This tale of fertility is a relatively new chapter, changing the narrative in a story that had long been characterized by failure. “Previously there were no trees on my land, only secondary crops,” says Abah, who believes the turning point came with his involvement in the Trees4Trees planting program. “After receiving tree planting assistance from Trees4Trees, now my land is greener because lots of fruits, timber, and other multi-purpose trees are growing.”

Citaman Village is located in the Citarik sub-watershed, on the banks of a tributary to the Citarum River. Trees4Trees has committed to rejuvenating this area, regreening the banks of the Citarum and its tributaries in order to support ecosystem health and improve quality of life for those living off the land.

Part of this approach includes supporting local livelihood opportunities with an emphasis on sustainable practices. One such initiative is centered around a public camping ground. Every weekend, around 100 tourists come here to enjoy the views, breathe the fresh air, and hike the nearby hills.

Since he began planting trees around this camping ground, Abah has noticed the interconnectedness of natural health and the well-being of local people. “The trees I planted not only provide shade,” he explains, “but also improve the fertility of the land, making nature and the environment around here more sustainable.” The new trees have also made the area more attractive to visitors, offering Abah and his community additional income opportunities through ecotourism.

The camping grounds in Citaman Village welcome around 100 ecotourists each week, providing sustainable livelihood opportunities for residents. Photo: Trees4Trees

Hopes for the future

Abah Dayat is one of several farmers sponsored by Better Green. With support from Trees4Trees as program implementer, Better Green has committed to planting 30,000 trees between 2022 and 2027. To date, 12,000 have already been planted, including those on Abah’s land.

For Abah, this partnership represents the promise of a better tomorrow. “I see these trees as an investment in the future, which I hope will be enjoyed by my children and grandchildren after I am gone,” he says, before describing replanting is a kind of social responsibility. Now, after a lifetime lived as a farmer, Abah describes himself simply as “a human being committed to preserving nature.”

Looking back on the past two years, and planning for the future, Abah has a simple message for his supporters: “I would like to thank Better Green and Trees4Trees for the seedlings they have given to me. With their help, I believe my land will become fertile again and provide benefits to nature, my family, and my community for many years to come.”

Trees4School: Empowering Children to Protect Semarang’s Coastal Ecosystem

Mangunharjo and Mangkang Wetan are two villages in the Tugu District of Semarang City, located in the northern coastal area of Central Java. Situated on the edge of coastal areas facing the Java Sea, the villages frequently experience tidal flooding.

During the rainy season, or when tidal waves rise and strong winds blow, the villages are inundated by floodwaters. Sometimes, the flooding reaches the chest height of adult people, making children particularly vulnerable as the environment around them becomes unsafe for playing or even going to school.

Modern development exacerbates tidal flooding

In the past, the coastal areas of Semarang were dominated by agricultural land and surrounded by mangrove forests. However, with the onset of modern development, excessive exploitation and land conversion into industrial and residential areas have placed a heavy burden on the coastal area.

The expansion of industrial areas causes land subsidence and the loss of natural barriers, as mangrove forests have been deforested. These issues then triggered coastal erosion and tidal flooding, harming the well-being of the local communities living nearby, including children.

Mangrove Planting — Trees4Trees along with volunteers from universities, companies, and government officials planted mangroves to support mangrove restoration in Mangunharjo coastal area.

Children vulnerable to tidal flooding’s impact

Living in the midst of a tidal disaster-prone area, children are the most vulnerable group affected by these conditions. When tidal flooding occurs, inundated houses, roads, and even schools disrupt their studies, hinder their way to school, and limit their freedom to play around.

“When the tidal flood high, there many students who cannot attend the class for days because their homes inundated with flood as well as the access from their homes to school,” Slamet, the headmaster of Mangkang Wetan 01 Elementary School revealed.

Slamet believes that coastal environmental protection should be taught to children from an early age to prepare them with the knowledge and skills needed to mitigate the impact of tidal flooding and reduce its severity.

Trees4School — Students at Mangkang Wetan 01 Elementary School were engaged in the mangrove education session led by Trees4Trees and the Lanang Wadon community.

Trees4Trees initiated a coastal protection and mangrove education at school

To provide children in both villages with essential knowledge on coastal protection and mangrove conservation, Trees4Trees organized an educational event through its Trees4School program. Coinciding with National Children’s Day on July 23rd, the event was held at Mangkang Wetan 01 Elementary School.

The event was also part of the Trees4Trees Planting Festival, held in June 2024, where 2,000 mangroves and 100 coastal pine trees were planted in the Mangunharjo coastal area. This initiative supports the local community’s efforts to restore mangrove forests as natural barriers against tidal flooding.

planting mangrove — The planting of mangroves brings renewed hope to the Mangunharjo coastal area, as they protect against tidal surges.

“Most of the children in Mangunharjo and Mangkang Wetan villages attend this elementary school. Since this area is prone to tidal flooding and is surrounded by mangrove covers planted by the local community in recent years, we believe it’s important for children to understand the value of caring for mangroves as natural barriers for their homes,” said Slamet.

In collaboration with the Lanang Wadon Storytelling community, Trees4School included a storytelling session about the superpowers of mangroves. The session highlighted how mangroves sequester carbon dioxide at a rate 10 times greater than other trees, help stabilize the Earth’s temperature to prevent the worsening of global warming, provide habitat for coastal biodiversity, and most importantly, protect coastal areas from storm, erosion, and tidal flooding, which the children experience annually.

“Through the Trees4School program’s coastal ecosystem and mangrove education, we aim to instill an early understanding of coastal preservation in children. Previously, we planted mangroves along the shoreline, and by engaging children in interactive activities such as games, storytelling, and short films, we hope to inspire them to protect mangroves and coastal ecosystems. Healthy mangrove forests contribute to robust coastal ecosystems, safeguarding their homes, schools, and their parents’ livelihoods,” said Adi Gani, Trees4Trees Project Manager.

Interested in supporting environmental education for the next generation? Sponsor the Trees4School program along with your tree donations. In addition to implementing Trees4School in our project areas, Trees4Trees offers hands-on tree-planting experiences and valuable environmental knowledge to students in public and private schools. Contact us to get involved!

Writer: V. Arnila Wulandani. Photos: Yulianisa Dessenita

Conserving Nature, Preserving Sundanese Traditional Culture in West Java

“I train my sheep to run and swim, build their body strength with massages, and provide them with nutritious food,” explains Maman Abdurohman, a farmer and sheep breeder from Ibun Village in West Java. “This includes vitamins, eggs, honey, and leaves like gmelina,” he added.

Like most farmers in this region, Maman is a member of the Sundanese tribe, an ethnic group famed for their performance arts. One of their most iconic traditions is a sheep festival which traces its roots back to the 1800s, when these gatherings offered a way for farmers to meet, barter for livestock, and share their knowledge.

Generations later, the annual sheep show continues to draw the crowds. And now, with support from Trees4Trees, farmers are combining animal husbandry with reforestation efforts; keeping traditions alive, while helping West Java stay green.

The value of tradition

The annual sheep gathering, known locally as kesenian ketangkasan domba, is truly unique. Part livestock auction, part beauty pageant, it features a range of activities to demonstrate the animals’ physical strength, health, agility, and beauty – particularly the size, shape, and curvature of their distinctive horns. Accompanied by traditional Sundanese music, the sheep parade is an unforgettable spectacle.

Conserving Nature — (Above) With traditional music, parades, and demonstrations of animals’ strength, the traditional sheep performance (kesenian ketangkasan domba) is a major highlight in the farming calendar

“The competition aims not only to find the strongest and best-looking sheep,” explains Yeyen Sopian, a farmer from Ibun Village, “but also to preserve this traditional art as part of Sundanese culture. Each competition draws a big crowd, and the winning animals can be worth a small fortune to their owners.

“The better their performance, the higher their price,” says Maman, noting that a strong showing in the event can increase a sheep’s value to around 40 or 50 million rupiah (USD 2,500–3,100). “Actually winning the competition can raise their value to 100 or 200 million rupiah (USD 6,300–12,750),” he adds, with a sense of wonder and excitement.

Planting trees, preserving culture

Key to the animals’ strength is the food they eat. “We use a variety of fodder,” explains Yeyen, “including grasses, plants, tofu, and gmelina leaves, which help them grow big and strong.” Gmelina makes for excellent fodder, along with the leaves of red stinkwood trees. To ensure a steady supply, Maman uses a particular pruning method. “The branches must be pruned just right, so we can use the leaves as fodder without harming the trees,” he says.

“The Ibun community has long grown gmelina trees for their high-nutritious, easily digestible leaves,” says Jeje Sutarja, Trees4Trees’ Unit Manager for the Cirasea Watershed Unit in Bandung. “By providing gmelina trees free of charge, Trees4Trees helps farmers increase tree coverage, which has the triple benefit of supporting the animals’ well-being, preserving traditions, and conserving the natural environment.”

Winning sheep — (Above) Members of the Trees4Trees team pose together with Maman (center) and one of his prize-winning sheep

Planting for the future, rooted in traditions of the past

“Farmers already know how to prune correctly by avoiding cuts to the trunk, and we provide additional guidance,” says Alwi Subhan, Trees4Trees’ Field Coordinator for Ibun District, adding that, by educating farmers on pruning methods, Trees4Trees aims to encourage proper leaf harvesting without harming the trees. “For example, before pruning, they need to measure at least 15 to 20 cm from the trunk to prevent damage to the trees,” explains Alwi.

In addition to gmelina, Trees4Trees distributes a range of other tree species to the sheep farmers, including red stinkwood, albizia, mindi, and jackfruit. By providing them with the trees and the know-how they need, Trees4Trees is supporting the preservation of nature and culture in West Java. Together, we are helping traditions stay as strong and valued as the animals themselves.

Writer: V. Arnila Wulandani. Editor: Chris Alexander. Photos: Kemas Duga Muis

Activity Highlights: Farmer Training Initiative to Empower Local Communities

In Trees4Trees‘ tree-planting operation, our focus includes empowering and encouraging local communities – our partners as tree growers – to implement environmentally friendly farming methods. By doing so, we anticipate that the farming activities will not harm the surrounding environment, while also potentially benefiting local communities through the products of the trees, such as fruits, leaves, or bark.

To achieve this goal, we conduct a series of farmer training sessions at each working site as part of our tree-planting initiatives. This year, various topics about organic farming methods have already been covered. These topics include how to make organic pesticide and herbicide, formulating liquid and granular organic fertilizers, and microbe’s decomposer.

Additionally, there are also topics related to the cultivation techniques, such as applying organic cultivation pattern, increasing timbers and multipurpose tree species productivity, grafting and plant propagation through cutting techniques, and best practices to cultivate fruit trees in organic ways.

Let’s delve into the recent establishment of Trees4Trees‘ farming training program!

Our field team is at the forefront of engaging local communities to tree-planting programs. Trees4Trees held a Training of Trainers to enhance the understanding of organic farming methods among our field team before delivering the knowledge to the tree growers participating in the program. Our field team will continue to disseminate this knowledge to tree growers in each planting area through mentoring and hands–on practice.

Trees4Trees provides its tree grower partners with brochures (above) and videos (below) as information and tutorial sources they can access for free. These information tools contain tutorials and steps in how to implement each organic farming method.

Organic biopesticide is useful to prevent and control pests and disease attack to the trees planted without leaving harmful residuals. Our field team showcases tutorials of organic biopesticide making in a hands-on practice to the local communities. The organic biopesticide is formulated from some tree leaves like suren, sirsak, and sirih leaves. They are mixed with turmeric, galangal, tobacco, molasses, and decomposer microbes.

In the process of making organic biopesticides, three kinds of leaves; sirsak, suren, and sirih leaves need to be pounded before they are mixed with other ingredients. Local farmers are pounding them with a traditional pestle and mortar made from wood.

Fulfilling the high demand for knowledge about organic fertilizers in local communities, our field team conducts farming training on how to make organic liquid fertilizers. (Above) We utilize household waste like expired eggs and milk, rice washing water that are mixed with some other ingredients including sheep’s manure, volcanic ash, and spirulina. To apply this type of fertilizer, simply by spraying around the trunk of trees planted. (Below) The organic fertilizer training attracted many local people to directly witness the tutorials demonstration.

One of the farming training topics we cover is grafting techniques, a cultivation method that involves attaching one plant bud to another. This method aims to combine favorable characteristics from both plants to achieve a better variety of trees.

Decomposer microbes and soil fertilizers play a crucial role in the organic farming system due to their numerous functions in plants growth. They help compost plants and livestock waste to become nutrient for plants, reduce chemical waste in the soil, enhance soil fertility, and help to prevent pathogenic bacteria. Additionally, they significantly improve the chemical and biological function of soils. Considering these factors, we conduct training on decomposer microbe production using rotten rice, banana weevil, bamboo roots, molasse, and yeast that are fermented.

In one of our farmer training sessions, we presented a tutorial on making herbicide from organic ingredients, including coconut water, sugar, and yeast, followed by a fermentation process. Organic herbicide is useful for controlling and preventing weed growth that can disrupt the growth of trees.

farmer training planting trees reforestasi training of trainer tree planting

Kalirejo Art and Cultural Festival: Giving Thanks to Nature

Parade Festival Budaya Kalirejo_Trees4Trees

The fertile, volcanic soils of Central Java provide food and livelihoods for the many people who live off the land. In return, these communities give their thanks to nature with offerings and elaborate celebrations. One of these festivals was held recently in a Trees4Trees operation area – Kalirejo Village in Kebumen.

From August 9–11, the Kalirejo Art and Cultural Festival combined cultural traditions with religious ceremonies, in a show that proudly affirmed the community’s identity. The celebrations included performances of traditional dance, a cultural parade, games, and a shared feast.

(Above) Trees4Trees join the celebrations at Kalirejo Art and Cultural Festival

Connection to land and ancestors

The event showcased a series of performances, including the cepetan and ebeg. Passed down through the generations, these traditional dances have a mystic quality, and connect the dancers to the spirits of their ancestors.

The festival also featured a performance of the wayang kulit (a traditional Javanese shadow puppet show) as part of the ruwat bumi – a traditional ceremony that aims to secure the peace, security, and prosperity of the village.

Cepetan dance performed at Kalirejo Art and Cultural Festival_Trees4Trees — (Above) Cepetan dancers wear devil masks to scare evil spirits away from the village. (Below) The ebeg dance features horse-like effigies made from woven bamboo. It symbolizes the bravery of soldiers going to war.

Keeping tradition alive

The celebrations came to a climax with a colorful parade, in which the whole community came together to watch or take part. Villagers proudly carried their produce from the fields, which included corn, rice, fruits, vegetables, and tubers. Accompanying the parade were dancers and musicians, who helped create a carnival atmosphere.

(Above) Villagers carry their produce during the parade. (Below) A convoy of musicians and dancers help create a carnival atmosphere.

Next came the kenduri giling pitu feast, which involves villagers placing rice and vegetables wrapped in banana leaves onto woven trays. After offering prayers and giving thanks for the bountiful harvest, the food is distributed to all in attendance at the festival.

According to Ella, a local Trees4Trees Field Coordinator who was born and raised in Kebumen, “the prayers and the distribution of food symbolize the villagers’ gratitude to both God and nature.”

The kenduri giling pitu feast at Kalirejo Art and Cultural Festival

The traditions of art, music, dance, and traditional ceremonies highlighted by the Kalirejo Art and Cultural Festival dates back centuries. However, some of the village elders are concerned that, unless the younger generation keep them alive, these pastimes may soon fade away.

“The festival is a way to preserve our ancestral culture, ensuring it stands the passage of time,” says Maratun Chasanah, a Trees4Trees Field Coordinator and a local youth from Kebumen. “This way, the young generation can gain a deeper understanding of their own traditions and arts,” she added.

A cup of Java: Growing the local economy

Cultural preservation was not the only aim of the festival. The community also set up a bazaar where villagers could sell their products, which included traditional foods made from crops like cassava and corn, handmade crafts from woven bamboo, fresh fruit and vegetables, and the village’s new up-and-coming commodity: Coffee.

Together with Tree Ltd, Trees4Trees has been helping local communities in Kalirejo plant coffee trees since 2019. And these activities are already delivering positive results.

“We harvested approximately one ton of coffee from the trees provided by Trees4Trees and Tree Ltd,” says Sarman, the Head of Kalirejo Village. “This valuable commodity has significantly supported our community, and we eagerly anticipate the continuation of this collaboration,” he added.

(Above) Ripe coffee cherries add color to the fields in Kalirejo

The Story of Wasis, How a Tree Grower is Making a Difference in Water Conservation

Planting the seeds of new traditions

During the festival, Trees4Trees distributed seedlings and organic fertilizer, to support reforestation and promote the adoption of organic farming in Kalirejo. A total of 1,000 trees were distributed to festival attendees,. including suren, duku, gayam, clove, and coffee.

“Suren leaves can be used as biopesticides, coffee offers a stable income from its berries, and Gayam trees assist in soil and water conservation,” explains Rizky Pradhitya, Trees4Trees’ Unit Manager in Kebumen.

“We believe that by providing these seedlings we can showcase the trees’ potential to the community – our aim is to help them improve their environment and promote organic agriculture, while also boosting productivity, so everybody wins.”

Two of the 1,000 seedlings distributed to Kalirejo by Trees4Trees and Trees Ltd

Writer: V. Arnila Wulandani. Editor: Christopher Alexander

kalirejo kalirejo art and cultural festival kebumen planting trees reforestation

Author: Naila Hayyatsnaini