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Balancing Industrial Growth with Urban Forest Planting

From electricity consumption and infrastructure development to manufacturing and distribution, the industrial sector stands among the world’s largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. According to the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), direct industrial emissions account for nearly 22% of total global emissions, while indirect emissions – from electricity and industrial heat – contribute another 31%. This places the industrial sector at the center of the climate challenge and makes it a priority for emission reduction.

Recognizing this responsibility, Jaya Obayashi has strengthened its commitment to balancing industrial growth with environmental protection through sustainability-driven initiatives. Hardy Tekyawan, a member of the company’s Board of Directors, explained the company not only complies with ISO 14001 international environmental management, but also strives to go beyond compliance by taking direct action.

“Our parent company is deeply committed to sustainability and, as a construction subsidiary, we are encouraged to actively contribute as well. It’s no longer just about meeting regulations, but about taking part in real environmental action,” he said

Turing Commitment into Action: 500 Trees for Urban Forest Expansion

As part of their ongoing sustainability efforts, Jaya Obayashi has committed to expanding the urban forest located within the Greenland International Industrial Center (GIIC) area in Cikarang, West Java – one of Indonesia’s largest and most active industrial hubs in the Greater Jakarta region. With support from Trees4Trees, Jaya Obayashi recently planted 500 trees in this location.

Kentaro Miyashita, Jaya Obayashi’s General Affairs Admin Advisor, confirmed that over 50 employees from various divisions took part in this initiative as planting volunteers. “Every year, we improve and strengthen our sustainability program, while also encouraging more staff to connect to environmental protection efforts,” he said.

Hardy added that the company’s approach to sustainability applies across all business levels, from head office to project sites. “Our internal engagement must be strong, so everyone consciously participates in environmental responsibility.”

Balancing Industrial Growth with Urban Forest Planting — Hardy (left), a member of the Jaya Obayashi Board of Directors, receives a tree-planting certificate from Trees4Trees’ Director, Pandu Budi Wahono.

Beyond Compliance: Annual Sustainable Programs

Ramdan and Tasya, from the Jaya Obayashi Corporate Communications and Legal team, also explained that urban reforestation is one of several environmental programs which the Company carries out on a regular basis. “In addition to this tree-planting activity,” explained Ramdan, “we also conducted mangrove planting from 2022 to 2024 and have continued our upcycling program for old employee uniforms.”

Both went on to emphasize that these efforts are designed, not only to address environmental impact, but also to build a culture of awareness within the organization. By engaging and involving employees, the company aims to strengthen environmental consciousness through practical action.

Jaya Obayashi staff plant trees — (Above) Ramdan (crouching in the center) and Tasya (second from the right), together with other Jaya Obayashi employees finish planting trees in a plot of land within the GIIC industrial area. (Below) Over 50 members of staff from Jaya Obayashi join in the tree-planting activity.

Reversing the Damage, Contributing to Climate Action

The urban forest planting initiative forms part of Jaya Obayashi’s broader vision to help restore the ecological function of industrial landscapes – areas often exposed to higher temperatures, increased emissions, and land degradation. Tree planting serves as a way to mitigate ecological stress while contributing to positive climate action.

“We all know that global warming is worsening,” says Ramdan. “Through initiatives like this, we are aligning our efforts with the UN SDGs by taking real action.” The company hopes the newly planted trees will provide long-term environmental improvements, while converting unused areas into green buffer zones.

Tomi Bustomi, Trees4Trees’ Regional Manager for West Java, explained that a mix of tree species was selected to accelerate canopy formation. “These trees sequester emissions and produce oxygen,” he said. “We use a combination of shade trees like rain trees along with fast-growing species such as gmelina, albizia, and cadamba to speed up greening and ecological recovery.”

The event was also joined by Trees4Trees Green Ambassadors Tantri (Kotak) and Arda Hatna, whose presence brought extra excitement to the initiative. “The energy and enthusiasm were incredible,” said Tantri. “We hope these trees will help ease today’s climate challenges, growing into shade and absorbing emissions in this industrial area.”

Their participation shows how collective action can inspire more people to take part in real climate solutions.

Arda and Tantri plant trees with Trees4Trees — Arda and Tantri, Trees4Trees green ambassadors joined the tree-planting as volunteers.

A Sense of Peace and Purpose

Hardy emphasized that the initiative is meant, not only to restore the environment, but also to demonstrate the value of trees to human life. “We love trees because they give us oxygen and support the well-being of humankind and all living creatures. I hope this program inspires others to follow a similar path,” he said.

Sharing the same sentiment, Kentaro highlighted the cultural perspectives rooted in the company’s Japanese heritage. “Wooden houses are traditionally very common in Japan, so we naturally feel a cultural closeness to trees,” he explained. Trees, he noted, symbolize both beauty and life. “When we look at trees, they bring a sense of peace. The greenery is soothing to the eyes.”

In closing, he emphasized that protecting trees today means protecting the future. Continuing planting and protecting trees is not just an environmental responsibility, but also a way of preserving life and culture for future generations.

Writer: V. Arnila Wulandani. Photos: Yulianisa Dessenita

#GIIC #JayaObayashi #UrbanForest bekasi csr trees4trees

Earth Day 2025: Creating an Urban Forest with FedEx

Every year on April 22, people around the world come together to celebrate Earth Day, an urgent call to reduce our collective carbon footprint and contribute to positive environmental developments. Answering that call, FedEx Indonesia took part in a tree-planting event at the Greenland International Industrial Center (GIIC) in Cikarang, Bekasi on April 26, 2025. The initiative set out to create an urban forest that can regreen one of Jakarta’s major industrial buffer zones.

Garrick Thompson, Managing Director of FedEx Indonesia, confirmed the initiative was not just a celebration of Earth Day, but also a reflection of the company’s commitment to nature-positive action. The FedEx Indonesia office is located in the heart of Jakarta, where issues like traffic and air pollution are a daily challenge. In nearby buffer zones like Bekasi, where the GIIC is located, environmentally friendly actions can have a wide-ranging impact for people living and working in the city.

“You know, this environment that we live and work in is fragile,” said Thompson, who is committed to finding solutions for environmental problems in his local area. “There’s a lot of land we can regenerate, and thereby give back to nature,” he added.

(Above) Garrick Thompson, Managing Director of FedEx Indonesia, who joined the tree-planting event in Cikarang this April.

Planting Trees, Seeding Progress

The tree-planting initiative was a collaborative effort between FedEx Indonesia, Trees4Trees, and the GIIC management. A total of 300 trees were planted, which will provide shade and fruit in the new urban forest.

Trees like cadamba (jabon), gmelina, albizia (sengon) jackfruit, and avocado were chosen for their resilience – they should be able to take root and thrive, even in the area’s poor soil, which has been degraded by years of rapid land conversion for industrial development. These trees will provide shade, a simple step which is proven to reduce temperatures and improve airflow in urban areas.

The planting was carried out by a large team of volunteers from FedEx, who demonstrated their dedication, and the commitment of their company, to environmental preservation.

(Above) More than 50 FedEx team members took part in the project, which successfully planted 300 new trees around the GIIC in Bekasi.

“We’re excited to bring our team here together with Trees4Trees,” explained Thompson during the tree-planting activities. “We have more than 50 people from our team helping out today,” he added, before noting that this kind of activity will help engender an environmental mindset among employees moving forwards. “It’s a great opportunity to instill a sense of responsibility to give back and to find ways to contribute to a sustainable environment,” he added.

Dewi Herniani, Vendor Clearance Manager at FedEx, found the experience especially meaningful. Raised in a village close to nature, she was excited to reconnect with the environment through this initiative. “We were each assigned six trees for planting today, but I’m happy that I managed to plant 10,” she said proudly. Dewi hopes to participate in more activities like this, as part of FedEx’s ongoing sustainability program. “If no one cares about greening the environment, and the world ends up without trees, what would it look like? That’s why I believe it’s important for us to act together,” she added.

(Above) Dewi Herniani, FedEx Indonesia Vendor Clearance Manager, gets her hands dirty and commits to making an impact through urban forestry.

Contributing to FedEx’s Carbon Reduction Goals

As a global logistics company, FedEx understands the importance of contributing to environmental sustainability. During the event, Thompson noted that tree-planting activities like this contribute to FedEx’s wider sustainability mission.

“We place a big emphasis on sustainability in our business,” he said. “Our target at FedEx is to be carbon neutral by 2040 and this tree-planting activity plays a big role in helping us achieve that.” Thompson also added that this sustainability goal is a priority, not only for the company, but also for its customers.

Rahmat Fauzi works in the FedEx Customer Service team. He confirmed that environmental preservation is an integral part of FedEx’s corporate culture. “FedEx is focusing on creating linkages between company, community, and environment. By working together, we can achieve positive impacts,” he said.

(Above) Adi Gani, Trees4Trees’ Project Manager, presents a tree-planting certificate to Garrick Thompson, Managing Director of FedEx Indonesia.

Earth Day — (Above) FedEx employees carefully planted the new saplings together, then watered them and added fertilizer to give the new growth a good chance of survival.

A Shared Responsibility for a Greener Future

Dewi believes caring for the environment isn’t just a corporate responsibility, but an important path for individuals to follow too. “At FedEx, we’re not just working – each of us has a role in protecting the environment,” before adding that “we all breathe the same air; planting trees is something anyone can do to produce cleaner air, even starting with just one tree.”

Rahmat added that FedEx’s culture encourages both the company and individuals to act together for the environment, while also giving back to nature and communities. “Humans and nature are connected,” he said. “If we protect nature, it protects us; if we harm it, it harms us back. Initiatives like this are a way to ensure better environmental sustainability in the future,” he added.

The 300 new trees planted by the FedEx team are expected to grow strong and support a healthier environment in the industrial area, helping reduce carbon emissions and air pollution, increase green cover to cool the climate, and bring lasting benefits to surrounding areas. With support from Trees4Trees, FedEx Indonesia is furthering their sustainability mission and helping to secure a greener, cleaner future for Jakarta’s urban areas.

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

#GIIC bekasi Earthday fedex

Growing Green: Microsoft’s Continued Urban Forestry Initiative

(Microsoft; Growing Green) It was only 8 AM, but already hot as an oven in the GIIC industrial area in Bekasi, just east of Jakarta. Sweltering days are par for the course around here, in one of West Java’s largest and busiest industrial centers, where buildings and factories are scattered all around, and trees are hard to come by.

But all that is beginning to change. Microsoft Operations Indonesia has teamed up with Trees4Trees and One Tree Planted to launch a tree –planting program that will bring shade to the industrial estate and a range of benefits to the surrounding landscape and communities.

CSR Tree Planting event — (Above) Seedlings planted in 2022 have taken root and are beginning to grow (Photo: Kemas Duga Muis/Trees4Trees)

Balancing development with environment

This program kicked off in 2022 – 2023, when 22,800 trees were planted. Following the success of that pilot project, 19,000 more trees are being planted in 2024.

“Together with Microsoft, our goal is to enhance the greenery and create a healthier environment in industrial areas,” explains Pandu Budi Wahono, Trees4Trees’ Program Manager.

Trees chosen for the program include gmelina and rain trees, which can provide some much-needed shade. Other, multipurpose trees like petai, durian, and jackfruit have also been chosen, as they can provide fruit and other resources for the local community.

Regreening the urban jungle

In December 2023, 500 new trees were planted in GIIC by a team of volunteers made up of Microsoft staff, partners, and clients marking the starting of the tree-planting initiative.

“This tree –planting event serves as a reminder for those of us, who work in the technology field, about the significance of environmental protection,” said Elizabeth Simatupang, who is the Data Center Operations Manager at Microsoft Operation Indonesia.

She also revealed that volunteering had made her more aware of the many benefits trees can offer. “I hope the trees we’ve planted will produce more oxygen and be beneficial to the environment, aligning with our motto: Technology should not cost the Earth,” she added.

Gavin Hodge is DCD Project Manager at Microsoft Operations Indonesia. This was his second time volunteering with Trees4Trees, and he felt energized to see so many people working to support the environment.

“It’ is great to see so many people get involved,” said Gavin, referring to the various Microsoft partners and team members onboard with the project. “I hope big trees will stay here for a long time and remove carbon dioxide, making it a better place to live,” he added.

Microsoft team — (Above) Gavin Hodge during the tree planting event (Photo: Trees4Trees/V. Arnila Wulandani)

A watershed moment for urban replanting

Although the program focuses on creating an urban forest, improving degraded land and providing tree cover, its goals go even further. The industrial areas are located downstream of the Citarum river, specifically alongside the Cipamingkis and Cikalapa rivers., The program aims to restore the watershed and return forest cover to the region, addressing a range of complex challenges triggered by developmental pressures.

Amung is a local farmer and one of the project partners, who helps out by growing trees for the planting activities. In recent times, he’s seen the dangers of deforestation and land degradation firsthand: “Recently, when the river burst its banks and flowed into my field, many of my plants were lost.” He blames excessive upstream development for the flood, noting that severe river siltation left the rainwater with nowhere else to go.

The benefits of Microsoft’s extended planting program spread beyond the industrial estate and into the surrounding landscape, impacting lives and livelihoods in unexpected ways. In addition to providing shade and restoring the watershed, planting trees here can help prevent flooding and protect local farmers from potential ruin. Technology shouldn’t cost the Earth. Thanks to the latest initiatives by Microsoft and partners, development is headed in a more positive direction.

Watch the video: Urban Forestry Tree-planting with Microsoft

Writer: V. Arnila Wulandani. Editor: Christopher Alexander

bekasi citarum restoration karawang microsoft reforestation urban forestry

Regreening Jakarta’s Concrete Jungle through Urban Forestry

In terms of urban area, Jakarta is the second biggest city in the world. And it’s still growing; areas on the outskirts are quickly swallowed by the urban sprawl, and the increasing number of industrial centers is already having an environmental impact. But in the satellite towns of Bekasi and Karawang, locals are finding ways to push back against the concrete tide: by planting more trees.

Replanting urban forests offers all kinds of benefits. Trees combat pollution and lower temperatures. They provide habitats for animals and livelihoods for people. They filter drinking water, protect against flooding and prevent soil erosion. On a larger scale, urban forests are proven to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change by sucking carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Going Green in Greenland: Trees4Trees’ Replanting Program

Recognizing the importance of urban forests, and with support from Microsoft and One Tree Planted, Trees4Trees kicked off a tree-planting initiative in the Greenland International Industrial Center (GIIC) in Bekasi and the Karawang International Industrial Center (KIIC) in Karawang. The program, which began in November 2022, has already covered an area of 25 hectares.

“With this project, our goal is to plant 25,000 trees in GIIC and KIIC,” explains Anto Wartono, Planning Manager at Trees4Trees. “We hope these trees will soon grow into urban forests.”

According to Anto, Trees4Trees has already planted 17,778 trees around GIIC and KIIC. Around 8,000 more trees are expected to be planted in the area over the next few weeks.

The program actually went beyond planting. To raise public awareness about the importance of green spaces in urban areas, Trees4Trees engaged with local women farmers and ran an environmental campaign in local schools and communities.

Rehabilitating the Riverbanks

One of the main goals of the project is to restore areas around rivers. In recent years, the riverbanks have been eroding away due to land conversion. Trees4Trees focused on areas either side of the Cipamingkis and Cikalapa rivers, which flow through the GIIC area in Bekasi and the KIIC in Karawang, respectively.

In Jakarta, temporary shelters are a common sight on the city’s riverbanks. During the rainy season, rising water levels can lead to floods and landslides. Adding trees to the banks of rivers is an effective defense against these dangers.

“Many riverbanks have been converted into residential areas and semi-permanent buildings,” says Anto, who has experienced plenty of obstacles to urban planting. “Unlike in rural areas, planting trees in urban areas is more challenging – there are only a few spaces we can use as green areas.”

Greening Industrial Areas, Supporting Farmers

The process of urbanization and land conversion is also squeezing farmers off their land. As part of the urban forest project, Trees4Trees has been working with displaced farmers, helping them establish plantations in the newly reforested areas. By planting trees with high economic value – like durian, avocado, and caqui – we are helping devise new and sustainable ways to support local livelihoods.

“We have planted 3,085 trees in two villages around KIIC, Puseurjaya and Margamulya village,” says Anto. “While in the GIIC buffer zone, we have planted 2,300 trees in Pasirtanjung village by involving local farmers,” he added.

Preserving Biodiversity

Trees4Trees’ work in KIIC also covered the Telaga Desa conservation area; an educational park that provides a precious green oasis in Karawang. As part of the project, more than 3,000 trees were planted here. Trees species chosen for this purpose included kemang (white mango), buni (currant), pulai (blackboard tree), mundu (yellow mangosteen), genitri (rudraksha), puspa (needlewood), and gandaria (mango plum).

“These trees will grow 20 meters high in 5 years,” explains Gavin Hodge, the DCD Project Manager at Microsoft. He joined the activity in GIIC and KIIC area as a volunteer tree planter, and believes this project will offer a range of benefits. “(It’s) going to protect our environment and improve the estate, while also improving the situation for the community. So it’s good that Microsoft can be a part of it.”

With support from Microsoft, and in collaboration with local farmers, schools, and communities, Trees4Trees will continue replanting urban areas around Jakarta. Every sapling holds enormous potential. In time, they could change the landscape in one of the world’s biggest urban areas.

To find out more about our ongoing replanting programs, and to see how you can help, visit devtrees4trees.portopaper.com.