A Monument to Cooperation: AstraZeneca Puts Down Roots in Java

(Above) Volunteers join the tree planting activities, part of AstraZeneca Indonesia’s CSR program

To the east of Yogyakarta city, Banyunibo stands alone; an island of stone, marooned in a sea of green farmland. Unlike most buildings from the ancient Mataram kingdom – like nearby Prambanan and Ratu Boko – this ninth-century temple leads a solitary life. 

Out on these sunbaked plains, there are hardly any trees to provide shade. Particularly in the dry season, the area can become very hot and arid during the day, chasing people back to their cars and villages. But all that is about to change. 

A Shade Better: AstraZeneca Program Targets Tree Cover Density  

In February 2023, a joint tree-planting program kicked off in Cepit sub-village, where Banyunibo is located. Implemented by AstraZeneca and with support from Trees4Trees, the program will expand tree cover and provide more shade at the site.  

AstraZeneca Indonesia is working to deliver social and economic benefits to the local community, as part of an overarching goal to improve the environment.

AstraZeneca Indonesia's top management volunteering at the tree-planting event, including Se Whan Chon, Country President (fifth from the left); and Rizwan Abudaeri, Director of Market Access, Government Affairs and Regulatory Affairs (fifth from the right)
(Above) AstraZeneca Indonesia’s top management volunteering at the tree-planting event, including Se Whan Chon, Country President (fifth from the left); and Rizwan Abudaeri, Director of Market Access, Government Affairs and Regulatory Affairs (fifth from the right)

Providing Benefits for People and Nature 

The program provided a number of benefits to the local environment: restoring bare land, increasing water availability, supporting biodiversity, and mitigating environmental problems in various locations.

“The tree-planting event also included the riverbanks,” says Novita, Assistant Planning Manager at Trees4Trees. She explains that the trees planted will protect the rivers from erosion. “They will also increase rainwater absorption in the ground, preventing rainwater from flowing directly into the river,” she added.  

The program chose trees that will benefit communities. Species like mahogany, teak, damar, and trembesi, provide shade, support water availability, and produce a vast amount of oxygen; while fruit trees such as avocado, durian, and sapodilla can offer a source of income to local enterprises. 

(Above) Ms. Belinda Aw, Cluster Procurement Manager at AstraZeneca Singapore & Indonesia, plants a tree with the help of a Trees4Trees forester.
(Above) Ms. Belinda Aw, Cluster Procurement Manager at AstraZeneca Singapore & Indonesia, plants a tree with the help of a Trees4Trees forester.

The Program in Numbers  

The program involved many different people, working together to provide a range of environmental and social benefits, while also raising awareness in local communities about the importance of trees. 

  • 260 trees planted 
  • 2,500 square meters of land 
  • 500 volunteers from AstraZeneca Indonesia 
  • 25 groups, led by 18 experts from Trees4Trees 
  • 3 local communities 

“We hope everyone will benefit from the trees we have planted in this area,” says Novita. “Especially the local communities in the village, who can enjoy the shade provided by the trees and the oxygen they provide.,” Trees planted during the project will grow to provide shade for the temple, ecosystem benefits for the surrounding area, and livelihood opportunities for the people who live and work here. 

AstraZeneca Program : member of the Trees4trees planting team
Members of the Trees4Trees planting team

In the fertile heartland of Java, history and traditions run deep. Banyunibo is a symbol of this proud heritage. In the local language, the temple’s name means ‘dripping water’. With every drop of sweat shed during the recent tree-planting program, and every drop of rain that falls from now on, a forest will spring up around the temple; a living monument to the power of cooperation, shading the temple and its visitors for generations to come. 

For more information, and to find out how Trees4Trees is working together with AstraZeneca to restore forests around Indonesia, visit our website. 

Regreening Jakarta’s Concrete Jungle through Urban Forestry

Regreening Jakarta’s Concrete Jungle
With support from Microsoft, and in collaboration with local farmers, schools, and communities, Trees4Trees will continue replanting urban areas around Jakarta.

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.  

Regreening Jakarta’s Concrete Jungle
(Above) Since November 2022, Trees4Trees has planted 17,778 new trees around Bekasi and Karawang

“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.   

Regreening Jakarta’s Concrete Jungle
(Above) The Cipamingkis River in Bekasi, where Trees4Trees has been active recently

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).  

Regreening Jakarta’s Concrete Jungle
(Above) Microsoft’s Gavin Hodge (left) helps plant trees in the GIIC in Bekasi

“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.  

Writer: V. Arnila Wulandani. Editor: Christopher Alexander

Iju’s Passion for Planting Trees: Beyond the Harvest

Farmer story: Iju, one of Trees4Trees best farmers from Neglasari village
Iju, one of Trees4Trees best farmers from Neglasari village, Bandung Regency. Photo: Trees4Trees/Kemas Duga Muis

Since returning to his home village in Neglasari Village a few years ago, Iju (60) has decided to manage his family’s land. His home village is located in Ibun District, Bandung Regency. Before, he had worked in a rubber and oil palm plantation in Sumatera Island for years. However, his longing for his home village made him decide to return home.  

After returning from Sumatra, Iju began to plant bamboo trees. Unfortunately, the results were not good and the price was not favorable. Meanwhile, he had to support his family. His four children were married, while one of the youngest was still in senior high school and he needed income to meet his family’s daily needs. 

Switching From Growing Bamboo to Polyculture Planting System 

In the midst of his struggle in planting bamboo trees, he was offered to join planting trees program which initiated by Astra Zeneca and collaborates with Trees4Trees and One Tree Planted. He was excited to join the program and received support and training in agriculture from the Trees4Trees team. He did not only receive trees for free, but also obtained trainings and more knowledge of agriculture he needed from the team. 

Iju also got a suggestion and assistance from the team to manage his land by applying a polyculture or intercropping system. Indonesian called the system as tumpang sari. This system works by planting several types of trees and crops in a field. It allows farmers to reap short-term and long-term yields from several different trees and crops. Through this system, he potentially can get greater results than planting just one type of tree.

Based on the suggestion, Iju then decided to plant several food crops on his land whose results could be harvested in short term, such as onions, cassava, sweet potatoes, and chilies. Meanwhile, from the tree planting program with Trees4Trees, Iju received burflower-tree, gmelina, durian, and avocado trees. He can reap the long-term benefit from those types of trees.

Farmer story: Iju, one of Trees4Trees best farmers from Neglasari village
Iju is taking care of onion in his field. Photo: Trees4Trees/Kemas Duga Muis

Planting Trees to Restore the Former Forest in the Village

According to Iju, he intended to dedicate the long term-harvested trees he planted for his next generation. He said those trees will be his legacy for them. “I will not harvest or cut down these trees. I will pass them to my children and my grandchildren, so they will be able to enjoy the result and the benefit of trees I planted,” Iju said.  

For Iju, planting trees is beyond harvesting and using the result to meet his family daily needs. He believes that trees have much bigger role than that. Trees provide clean air to breathe, water, shelter, and preserve the life to all of living creature on earth. He realizes clean air and water are the most essential needs of human beings, including for the next generations. 

Planting Trees to Restore the Former Forest in the Village
Iju is applying polyculture system in his field. Photo: Trees4Trees/Kemas Duga Muis

“I plant trees because it provides great benefits not only for myself and my family. But also for the environment. They also produce oxygen and store water that keeps us alive. I want my children and grandchildren will have a good life in the future, so I plant trees,” he added.

Iju’s strong will to plant trees was also fueled by the disappearance of the former forest around her village years ago.  

Planting trees: Iju, one of Trees4Trees best farmers from Neglasari village
Iju and his wife are working in their field. They thank Trees4Trees along with the support of Astra Zeneca and One Tree Planted for tree seedlings and agricultural support they have received. Photo: Trees4Trees/Kemas Duga Muis.

“In the past, this village had a dense and natural forest. But the forest is lost and now it becomes a critical land due to excessive use. I have a dream to return the forest back. Who knows, if I keep planting trees, I may see the forest return to the way it was before,” said Iju optimistic. 

Rasito, Optimizing His Field with Coffee Trees

Rasito were proud of the sengon trees he grows. They reach more than 10-meters in height now.

In 2019, Rasito (53) joined the tree planting program initiated by Trees4Trees and Tree Ltd. At that time, he proposed various types of tree seedlings such as sengon, indigofera, and coffee to be planted in his field. He cannot help but feel grateful for the free seedlings he received. His decision to register and join the tree planting program three years ago was actually because of his strong will to optimize the yield of the field he owned. 

Fortunately, Rasito has a more fertile field compared to the fields in other villages. His field is located not far from his home in Kalirejo Village, Kebumen Regency.    

“I can say my field is fertile and easy to plant with any kind of crops and timbers. I think it is because the location is near the spring and river. So, when the dry season comes, it does not ever experience a drought,” Rasito said.  

Manage Pests is the Biggest Challenge

While strolling around his field, he seemed to trim the yellow leaves occasionally. According to Rasito, the biggest challenge to manage plants in his field is because of pests. “These yellow pests are very troublesome. They make leaves turn yellow, wilt, then die. Many sengon trees from Trees4Trees that I planted here were attacked by this kind of pest and could not survive. Auspiciously, there are still around 20 sengon trees that survive and grow well,” Rasito continued. He was pointing us to the sengon trees which now have reached 10 meters in height.  

Rasito, Optimizing His Field with Coffee Trees
Rasito thanks Trees4Trees and Tree HK for providing him various kinds of tree seedling, including coffee.

Since returning to his village twenty years ago, Rasito has chosen to focus on agriculture. He used to work in the coffee plantation in Lampung, Sumatera. However, he decided to return to his village because his heart felt heavy to leave his 7-years old son at that time. 

From the coffee plantation he used to work at previously, he has learnt a lot about agriculture and how to grow coffee. From his parents, he inherited traditional agriculture knowledge. He used them to manage his field area of more than 1.000 square meters until now.  

Unsatisfied with The Result of His Field

Before joining the tree planting program, most of his field was planted with cassava and taro. There were also turmeric and Kaempferia galanga or aromatic ginger. He also planted stinky beans, papaya, and kelor trees. All the yields to be sold as his income to support his family’s daily needs. He also raised goats as his saving.  

Regrettably, the price of cassava as his main yield is less competitive in the market. “One kilogram of cassava that has been cleaned costs around 1.700 rupiahs. If I don’t clean the skin, the price is only 1.500 rupiahs per kilogram. Taro’s price is much better. It is more stable, around 2.000 rupiahs per kilogram,” Rasito revealed. When the price drops or does not sell well in the market, then Rasito must give up the cassava he grew to be used as his cattle’s feed.  

For that reason, when he heard that there was a tree planting program and free seedlings distribution, he was enthusiastic. “At that time, I heard that coffee seedlings would be distributed to farmers. I was interested. I always want to apply the knowledge I have learned from the coffee plantation where once I worked in my own field,” told Rasito. 

Rasito, Optimizing His Field with Coffee Trees
Rasito with Robusta coffee trees that he has grown since 2019.

Growing Coffee Trees, Increasing His Field’s Productivity

He was thrilled to know that of the 180 Robusta coffee seedlings he received in 2019, he managed to grow well 150 coffee trees. Over the last three years, he has already harvested twice. “In one harvesting time, there may be about 5 kilograms. But it has not been sold yet. I am still testing my coffee trees, grinding the beans, and consuming them by myself. I have compared the taste with the Robusta coffee sold in the market and even with coffee sold in a cafe. I am sure that this coffee can compete with them,” he said confidently.  

Compared with cassava, Rasito believes coffee is more prospective. He also said it is not difficult to grow coffee trees. According to his survey, ground Robusta coffee’s price in the market can reach 30.000 rupiahs per kilogram. That interested him. Therefore, Rasito intends to replace cassava and taro with coffee in the future. “These cassavas are temporary. When I can grow more coffee trees, I will replace all of cassava and taro with coffee in order to make my field more productive as well as my income,” he was hoping.  

In addition to coffee, Rasito also grows pepper which is planted as vines on other trees. He is quite satisfied with the result of pepper. He can sell them for 80,000 rupiahs per kilogram.  

Rasito expects he we will be allowed to join the next tree planting program with Trees4Trees. He hopes he can receive durian and avocado seedlings. “I have tried planting durian and it is growing well in my field. If there will be another program, I intend to apply durian seedlings as well as avocado,” said Rasito. 

6250 Trees Planted in a Collaboration with NEC Indonesia

6,250 Trees Planted in a Collaboration with NEC Indonesia
Photo: Trees4Trees/Kemas Duga Muis

As a concern for environmental improvement and helping the local economy, Trees4Trees collaborates with NEC Indonesia to plant 6,250 trees planted on the lands of Sukaresmi Village and Sukaharja Village, West Java. The trees are planted in a total area of 10.5 hectares and involve 25 local farmers where trees are planted in their lands. A wide variety of trees ranging from fruit trees like avocado, mango, and durian, to woods like mahogany, teak, and albizia were planted in the tree-planting program.  

Pandu Budi Wahono, the Trees4Trees Program Manager said that conservation function is the main purpose of the program, but it is also expected that the tree planting will be beneficial for the local community. 

“Conservation function is the main purpose of the program so that trees planted will produce oxygen and maintain the water sources. But we are hoping that it will also be useful for the socio-economic community because we involve around 25 local farmers in total in the program,” said Pandu. He also said that mahogany trees will be planted along the village roads to make an improvement on the environment of the village public facility.  

According to Pandu, there is quite a lot of unproductive land in both Sukaresmi and Sukaharja villages, so it is expected that this program can be continued in the following year. 

Trees Planted Part of the NEC Corporate Social Responsibility Program  

The tree-planting program is a part of NEC Indonesia Corporate Social Responsibility Program that focuses on environmental sustainability to preserve nature. Joji Yamamoto, the NEC Indonesia President Director said that it is in line with NEC 2030 vision in the environmental aspect: Living harmoniously with the earth to secure the future. 

“The environment is one of the focuses of NEC 2030Vision to ensure a sustainable earth, so that we can live in harmony with nature to protect the future of this planet,” he said.  

Yamamoto on behalf of NEC, also thank the village head and all the residents of Sukaresmi and Sukaharja village to accept trees donation. “NEC Indonesia is proud to be able to take part in environmental preservation today. We thank all residents who have agreed to accept donations of thousands of trees from us to be planted on your land,” he added.  

CSR with NEC Indonesia
Photo: Trees4Trees/Yulianisa Dessenita

Started the Program with Tree-planting Event  

Marking the start of the tree-planting program, a tree-planting event was conducted last December 10, 2023. 250 trees were successfully planted in the public facilities of Sukaresmi village during the event. While the rest of the 6,000 trees were planted on 20 farmers’ lands in Sukaresmi and Sukaharja village last December 2022.  

26 staff of NEC participated in the event as tree planter volunteers, including the President Director, Joji Yamamoto. One of NEC staff who volunteers as a tree planter, Fathan, said that as part of NEC family, he is proud to be involved in the event. “We are grateful, especially because we can contribute to environmental improvement, not only for the benefit that we get today but also for the future,” he said. 

6250 trees planted
Photo: Trees4Trees/Kemas Duga Muis.

With the implementation of the tree-planting program in his village, the head of Sukaresmi village, Yana Sunarya thanked NEC and Trees4Trees for the program in the context of the conservation in his village. “We thank the tree-planting program. Hopefully, the trees planted can supplement the oxygen as well as the water source for prolonged life. By planting trees in our village, we also hope the trees will bring a great benefit for the villagers,” said Yana.  

Growing Together: Training Helps Farmers Go Green

Trees4Trees shows farmers in West Bandung how to make organic fertilizers
(Above) Trees4Trees shows farmers in West Bandung how to make organic fertilizers. Photo: Trees4Trees

Trees4Tress is working to green the world and grow a better future. In these reforestation efforts, farmers have a crucial role to play. Through a series of training activities, we have been working to build farmers’ capacity, empowering them to plant seeds of positive development in their communities. 

From November 4 to the end of January 2022, season, Trees4trees has held farmer training in 193 planting locations throughout West and Central Java. These sessions were attended by a total of more than 4,000 participants. We also employed local people as field facilitators, so they could take the lead in tree planting activities in their home village.

Trees4Trees Training in Numbers: 

  • 193 villages 
  • 40 sub-districts 
  • More than 4,000 participants 
  • 664 field facilitators 
  • 91 field coordinators 
  • 85 government instructors 

Raising Awareness, Developing Skills 

Our aim is to encourage the use of more organic, environmentally friendly methods. Training sessions focused on how to make organic fertilizers, and pesticides, while also showing farmers some handy propagation techniques for seedlings.

“It’s a win-win situation.” – Tedi, Trees4Trees Training Officer

Tedi Purnama is one of Trees4Trees’ training officers. He has noticed most farmers still use chemicals in agriculture. “We want to encourage them to switch to organic techniques,” he explains. “This is not only better for the trees’ growth, but also better for the environment – it’s a win-win situation.” 

Growing Together: Training Helps Farmers Go Green
(Above) mixing organic materials during a training session in Wargamekar village, West Java. Photo: Trees4Trees/Kemas Duga Muis

For many farmers who attended the training, organic farming was something interesting but unfamiliar. Nuryanto, from Pinggirsari village in West Java, was one of many who was happy to find out more information. 

“This training is interesting because the ingredients to make organic fertilizers or pesticides are easy to find and cheap,” said Nuryanto. “We know that chemical fertilizers and pesticides harm the soil – now we finally have a way to reduce our dependency on these materials,” he added.  

Read also: Encouraging Organic Farming Trough a Training 

Showing the Way: Field Coordinators and Facilitators 

Leading these sessions were Trees4Trees’ team of field coordinators and field facilitators; local recruits, trained in organic farming techniques by one of our more experienced training officers.  

“Field facilitators are closest to the farmers and local communities,” explains Tedi, who has been helping this team deliver the training in their communities. “They are also the first people farmers can go to and ask about how to implement organic farming properly. So it’s important for them to know everything,” he added.  

mixing organic materials during a training session in Wargamekar village, West Java
(Above) mixing organic materials during a training session in Wargamekar village, West Java. Photo: Trees4Trees/V. Arnila Wulandani

Rizki Imanuddin is a field coordinator from Pinggirsari village in the Cirasea district of West Bandung. He found the training to be a really positive experience. “Seeing the farmers so enthusiastic about organic farming makes me excited too,” he revealed. In his village, fruit production optimization was the most popular topic, as many local people were looking for ways to sustainably increase their fruit yields.  

Read also: Putting Down the Roots: Trees4Trees Planting Season 2022

Growing Together: Training Helps Farmers Go Green
(Above) Rahmat, a field coordinator from Banjaran Wetan village, shows farmers how to apply a grafting technique. Photo: Trees4Trees/Kemas Duga Muis

In Cisangkuy District, farmers were eager to join the training session about propagation of seedlings and grafting techniques. As the field coordinator, Rahmat noted that “during the training, farmers practiced the techniques seriously – they are eager to begin applying this knowledge in their own fields.”  

“Seeing the farmers so enthusiastic about organic farming makes me excited too.”– Rizki Imanuddin, a field coordinator from Pinggirsari Village

Collaboration is Key to Success Growing Together 

In addition to the generous support received from AstraZeneca and One Tree Planted in the planting area around the Citarum watershed, Trees4Trees is also working together with government instructors from Indonesia’s Agricultural Extension Agency (Badan Penyuluh Pertanian/BPP). 

So far, as part of our current planting season, more than 85 instructors from the government agency have gotten involved in farmer training in 32 sub-districts where our planting areas are located. 

Roni Nur Rohman is one of the instructors who attended the recent training. He believes BPP and Trees4Trees share the same mission: to support reforestation efforts and empower farmers to develop more sustainable livelihoods.

“We hope this training can improve farmers’ knowledge about tree planting and organic farming,” says Roni. “With collaboration, and from cultivation to harvesting, the planting process will bring great benefits to farmers and the environment.”  

Writer: V. Arnila Wulandani. Interview: Kemas Duga Muis. Editor: Christopher Alexander