Expanding Green Spaces: Urban Forestry in Gunung Putri, Bogor

Expanding Green Spaces: Urban Forestry
(Above) Local volunteers at the tree-planting program in Bojong Nangka Village, Gunung Putri District

Gunung Putri District is located near Bantar Gebang, home to West Java’s largest landfill site. Like many other areas on the outskirts of Jakarta, Gunung Putri struggles with a range of environmental problems, from air pollution caused by traffic jams to overpopulation, unchecked residential development, and the disappearance of green spaces. During the dry season, a lack of tree cover makes the region unbearably hot, and when the rains arrive there is flooding caused by poor drainage and soil erosion.  

But look a little closer, and green shoots of progress are beginning to break through the concrete of Gunung Putri. Supported by One Tree Planted (OTP), Trees4Trees has teamed up with local communities to rejuvenate the local environment with an urban forestry program. By replanting and raising awareness, these activities are helping mother nature in Gunung Putri (meaning ‘Princess Mountain’ in Indonesian), rediscover her former beauty. 

Planting Trees
(Above) A key feature of the program was outreach in schools, designed to engage the younger generation in nature preservation and demonstrate the benefits of a greener environment.

Nurturing the next generation 

Earlier this year, the urban forestry program from Trees4Trees and One Tree Planted kicked off in nine villages spanning Gunung Putri District. Planting activities targeted public spaces, privately owned land, schools, and universities. The aim was to regreen the local environment, while also helping reduce pollution and provide some relief from the heat. Another key objective was raising awareness of environmental issues in local communities. 

“Today we planted trees at SD Negeri Nagrak 04 (a local elementary school),” says Agus Susanto, one of several local volunteers in Nagrak Village who helped to plant teak, jabon, durian, jackfruit, and mango trees. “We would like to thank One Tree Planted and Trees4Trees for their support in planting trees in this village, including in this school,” he added.  

Focusing on schools was a key feature of the program. The objective was to instill the younger generation with a passion for nature preservation and demonstrate the benefits offered by greener surroundings. “Hopefully the trees we have planted will grow strong and make this school a greener place to be,” said Agus. “I hope the students can also see the benefits, making the school shadier and cooler, so they can study in comfort.” 

Fsrmers
Planting activities covered a range of places in Gunung Putri District, including schools, private lands, and public park. Providing community benefits.

Expanding Green Spaces: Urban Forestry

In nearby Bojong Nangka Village, the joint planting program mixed timber and multi-purpose trees, including mahogany, trembesi, pulai, jabon, and gmelina, which have wide canopies and are able to provide shade in public spaces. Other multi-purpose trees included durian, mango, clove, avocado, and petai, which have the potential to provide local communities with an alternative source of income.  

“This afternoon was amazing,” explains Amir Arsyad, the head of the village, following the planting activities. “On behalf of the residents of Bojong Nangka Village, we would like to thank Trees4Trees for providing assistance in the form of seedlings – hopefully they will grow well and provide benefits to the environment around us.” 

Trees
(Above) Keep on truckin’: T4T and OTP have delivered 12,000 new trees to locations in Gunung Putri District, including here, on the campus of Trisakti Nagrak

The multiple benefits of tree planting 

The One Tree Planted program has already planted around 12,000 trees in Gunung Putri District this year. With support from Trees4Trees and local communities, this urban forestry project aims to rejuvenate local ecosystems, reduce air pollution, provide shade, reduce soil erosion, improve water retention, sequester carbon, and build the awareness of environmental protection among local communities. 

Amir Arsyad is one of many participants in the program who has seen the benefits of this development and is now committed to nature restoration. “When we protect nature, nature will protect us,” he explains, before noting it is the community’s responsibility to care for their surroundings. “If not us,” he says, “who else will protect the nature around us?”   

Writer: V. Arnila Wulandani. Editor: Chris Alexander. Photos: Rusmanto Manulang/Trees4Trees

UPS: Delivering Positive Environment Impacts

Search for Setu District on Google Earth, and the satellite throws up a lonely patch of green, squeezed between Bogor and the two major industrial centers of Jakarta and Bekasi.  

In recent years, the forested fringes of Setu have been giving way to new residential areas, shopping centers, buildings, and other infrastructure projects. The roads are increasingly clogged with cars, chugging to work in a cloud of petrol fumes.  

But solutions are on the way. Working in collaboration with Trees4Trees and the International Tree Foundation, the United Parcel Service (UPS) recently began a tree-planting program in Setu District that is bringing a breath of fresh air back to this important buffer zone. 

UPS contributions to the global sustainability movement 

On March 9, 2024, UPS set up camp at Hobbit Hills Eco Village for their second Indonesian tree planting project in the past year. According to Maya Sarininta, General Manager of UPS Indonesia, the latest initiative reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to environmental improvement.  

Maya Sarininta, General Manager of UPS Indonesia, leads the way in the company’s recent tree-planting activities

“This tree-planting event is part of our global sustainability program, which aims to plant 50 million trees worldwide by 2030,” said Maya during the event at Hobbit Hills. “Last year, we planted 1,200 mangroves in the coastal area of Jakarta. This year, we will continue the tree-planting program by planting various trees in terrestrial areas to enhance Jakarta’s buffer zone. We hope to plant more trees next year with the participation of our staff, working towards our global goal,” she added. 

The many benefits of an urban forest 

UPS’ program successfully planted 600 trees, comprising eight different species that will eventually grow into a new urban forest. These include local hardwood trees such as jabon, sengon, suren, and trembesi, which provide shade and can even help reduce temperatures in urban areas.  

Multi-purpose trees like durian, petai, and clove were also planted at the site. These trees support the environment by sucking up carbon dioxide, while also helping keep a lid on pollution and heat. Even better, their fruits can provide local communities with sustainable new livelihoods. 

Pandu Budi Wahono is Trees4Trees Program Manager. Speaking at the event, he noted that all partners involved in the project were excited about the long-term changes a bit of green could bring to the neighborhood. “We hope all the trees planted today on this farm will be properly nurtured and beneficial to the next generation, particularly in this area,” said Pandu. 

The GM of UPS Indonesia (left) receives a tree-planting certificate from Trees4Trees Program Manager (right)

It takes a village: Working together for a greener future 

The tree-planting event brought together staff from UPS and Hobbit Hills Eco Village, along with members of the local community as volunteers. “We involved UPS staff from all departments and invited families, including children, who were eager to join,” explained Mohammed Akbar, Chief of Community UPS Indonesia who was the tree-planting event coordinator. 

“I planted over ten trees today,” giggled Misha, one of several children who joined in. “It was exciting to know the correct ways to plant trees, and of course, to get my hands dirty without any complaints from my mom! I hope I can come back here to pick their fruits,” she added.  

UPS staff and their families learn how to plant trees using a sustainable, organic approach.

Misha’s Mom, Ira, is a member of UPS Indonesia staff. She believes kids should be engaged in environmental education from a young age. “I brought my two children here to teach them about nature, how trees give us life and essential elements like oxygen. It’s crucial for the next generation to learn and contribute to nature preservation,” said Ira. 

A UPS staff member planted trees with her children. Involving children in the tree-planting event as volunteers was part of the early education to introduce the importance of protecting nature and planting trees to the next generation

The latest tree planting program from UPS is a small part of their global sustainability goals. “UPS supports any environmental movement that makes a positive impact on the environment, especially efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat global warming for a better future,” noted Farah, the UPS Co Chief of Community who was the assistance coordinator of the tree-planting event at the end of a long day’s planting on Hobbit Hill Eco Village. 

From Setu District to the rest of West Java, UPS Indonesia is working to positively impact communities and the environment as part of their global sustainability commitments. Through fruitful partnerships with Trees4Trees and the International Tree Foundation, UPS is determined to deliver on its green initiative.