2024 was a remarkable year for the environment in one part of the world.Together with our supporters, we advanced our efforts and achieved significant strides in greening rural and urban areas, including improving drought-prone, water-scarce, and erosion-prone regions, and enhancing industrial areas through urban forestry tree-planting initiatives. In collaboration with coastal communities, we also expanded our efforts to establish green belts by planting more mangroves.
As we close the chapter on 2024 and look forward to 2025, we extend our deepest gratitude to the individuals, companies, and organizations that contributed to our green initiatives this year. Your generous support as sponsors, donors, and volunteers has enabled us to achieve remarkable milestones, and we are excited to share them with you!
Looking ahead to 2025, we remain committed to expanding our tree-planting efforts across various regions in Indonesia and are excited to continue this journey with you. The Trees4Trees planting season is currently underway and will extend into early 2025. This year, we are broadening our initiatives to include Bali Island and planting additional mangroves in Cilacap, Central Java, with the aim of achieving even greater impacts on the environment, local communities, and the economy. Through our commitment, we aspire to double the trees we plant in the next two years.
Want to make a real impact on the earth this year? Join us in our reforestation mission! Together, help the environment and nurture life on our planet!
For more details, please reach out to us at info@trees4trees.treesforplant.com or directly click here Plant Trees with Us!
It still resonates in our minds that last 2023 was marked by unusually hot days. According to several studies, it was recorded as the hottest year in global temperature since this data was first recorded in 1850. The year was also impacted by El Niño, a natural climate warming phenomenon that can affect global weather. Climate change exacerbated the effects of El Nino in 2023 leading to prolonged droughts and heatwaves, which triggered severe wildfires in various regions, including Indonesia.
One of the major events linked to the phenomenon was the wildfires that devastated several forests in Indonesia’s mountainous areas, with over 140 incidents recorded throughout the year. Merbabu Mountain in Central Java Province suffered some of the worst damage, with over 480 hectares of forest burned.The fire was allegedly caused by natural leaves friction, although human actions like discarded cigarette butts or burning trash may have also played a role.
A Year After the Wildfire: Youth Community Reforests Fire-Damaged Area
One year has passed since the devastating wildfire on Merbabu Mountain in October 2023. It destroyed much of the forest cover, including valuable vegetation, such as edelweiss, cantigi, and tree species like puspa, pines, cinnamon, and wilodo. While some parts of the forests have been reforested, other fire-affected areas remain barren. This has motivated the youth community of the Executive Student Board (BEM) Diponegoro University to take action, mobilizing youth communities to restore the land by planting trees.
Diponegoro University students went to an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level together to plant 500 trees in the fire-affected area of Merbabu Mountain.
Collaborating with Trees4Trees, they organized a tree-planting event through an annual environmental program, Gerakan Aksi Tanam Pohon (GESIT) or the Tree Planting Action Movement. The event took place on October 20, 2024 – exactly one year after the wildfires struck.
“Aligned with our program in conservation, we initiated this tree-planting activity. In total, 70 volunteers from twelve faculties joined as tree-planting volunteers to help the environment, particularly by reforesting fire-affected areas,” said Jania, a student of Diponegoro University and coordinator of the tree-planting activity.
Three species of trees were planted in the area: puspa, cinnamon, and wilodo, all the characteristic trees of Merbabu.
A Green Collaboration to Recover the Environment
Together with Trees4Trees, the Gen Z volunteers planted 500 trees along the Thekelan hiking trail on the slope of Merbabu Mountain, in Getasan District, Semarang Regency.
“This tree-planting aims to support ecosystem recovery, allowing the trees to produce more oxygen to benefit all living beings. This small action reflects our care as young generations for the environment,” said Izza, a Diponegoro University student and leader of the Conservation and Disaster Division.
As part of its mission in education and sustainability promotion, Trees4Trees provided volunteers with essential training on tree-planting techniques and preparations a week before the event. Danang Pambudi, a Trees4Trees forester who led the training, emphasized the importance of sharing tree-planting knowledge with young people. “We hope this education encourages them not only to plant trees at this event but to continue planting more in the future, wherever they can,” he said.
Trees4Trees’ forester was presenting the tree-planting technique to the tree-planting volunteers.
Why Is It Important to Plant Trees in the Fire-Affected Area?
Danang revealed, Trees4Trees supported the tree-planting event by providing three species of trees: puspa, cinnamon, and wilodo, all of which are characteristic of Merbabu Mountain. Some of them were diminished during the wildfire.
“We selected the trees to fit the existing ecosystem. Merbabu is the natural habitat for these species, and by planting them, we help restore the ecosystem. In fact, the puspa tree is even fire-resistant,” said Danang. He also emphasized that if fire-affected areas are left neglected, they will eventually recover on their own. Birds and wind will disperse the seeds of native trees naturally, encouraging regrowth, but it takes time. “By planting these characteristic trees in their natural habitat, we help to accelerate ecosystem recovery. Additionally, we also help enhance carbon sequestration, contributing to fight climate change,” he explained.
Each tree was planted in 30 cm depth with 3 meters distance from each other to ensure their growth.
Empowering Youth through Trees4Trees Youth4Change
Trees4Trees‘ involvement in this collaborative tree-planting event was backed with the aim to raise awareness about environmental preservation among the young generation. This initiative is part of the Trees4Trees Youth4Change program, designed to empower youth to express their concerns and take action for a greener planet.
Trees4Trees Youth4Change collaborates with 70 students of Diponegoro University to make an environmental impact in the Merbabu tree-planting
Hatta Iskandar, the Trees4Trees Fundraising Manager, noted that Youth4Change offers opportunities for youth to engage in impactful actions for environmental preservation. “We are excited to collaborate with young communities, especially in tree-planting activities. We hope to continue this collaboration in the future and involve more youth in the green movement,” he stated.
In the other hand, Danang emphasized the younger generation holds the key to a sustainable future. “It’s vital to cultivate a sense of environmental responsibility in young people. By supporting positive initiatives and sharing knowledge, we can inspire a deep commitment to protecting our planet,” he said.
Writer: V. Arnila Wulandani. Photo: Yulianisa Dessenita & Doc. BEM UNDIP
(Above) Fourth graders at Bukit Aksara Elementary School water the Ketapang tree they planted in the school yard.
As the global human population continues to grow, the natural world is under increasing pressure. Efforts are needed now to protect and preserve our planet’s ecosystems for future generations. And this begins with education.
Through a series of school visits in June, Trees4Trees engaged with kids in Java, building their understanding of environmental issues and getting them excited about conservation. The activities were timed to coincide with Trees4Trees’ 15th anniversary, on June 11.
“Comprehensive environmental education plays a vital role in preparing kids to address the challenges posed by climate change in the future,” explains Novita, Trees4Trees Planning Assistant. “Schools serve as excellent starting points for such education,” she added.
Making Learning Fun
During a visit to Bukit Aksara Elementary School in Semarang, the Trees4Trees team used an animated video on global warming and tree planting to capture the children’s attention.
“I loved the video,” said Rino, a fourth-grade student at the school. “I learned a lot about global warming and what I can do to prevent it.”
“I’ve seen other animated movies at school too, where the Earth had no trees left, and people had to buy oxygen to breathe. I don’t want that future, so I am excited with this session,” added Rino.
In West Java, Trees4Trees visited Cieuri 1 Elementary School Ibun, Hidayatussa’adah Al Husni School Cipongkor, and Firdaus School Pengalengan in Bandung. In each location, activities focused on waste management, the importance of tree planting, and basic knowledge of conservation.
(Above) Visiting a group of high school students at Firdaus Islamic Boarding School in Pengalengan, West Java.(Above) Members of the Trees4Trees team discuss waste management with fourth grader students at Cieuri 1 Elementary School in West Java.
Learning by Doing: Hands-on Environmental Action
To provide students with hands-on experience, educational sessions included practical activities. At Bukit Aksara, students planted Ketapang trees in their schoolyard, and learned how to care for them properly.
(Above) Students dig holes and prepare organic fertilizers before they plant trees at Bukit Aksara school. Photo: Yulianisa Dessenita/Trees4TreesNurturing the Next Generation: Trees4Trees School Visits
Students atHidayatussa’adah Al HusniSchool also rolled up their sleeves and got planting. “During the session, we taught students to plant trees around the school,”remembers Irfan, the Unit Manager of the Ciminyak 2 site. “Together with them, we also planted 80 trees to green the school’s surroundings.”
At Cieuri 1 Elementary School, students went on a litter-picking walk to better understand the impact of their actions. The activity helped them develop more responsible habits.
(Above) Senior high school students at Hidayatussa’adah Al Husni Islamic Boarding School
Through all these efforts, Trees4Trees aims to empower children to become stewards of the Earth and help create a sustainable future for all.
Want to get involved? Trees4Trees is available to visit your school to share conservation skills and knowledge. For more information, please get in touch.
The Importance of Environmental Education
Cieuri 1 Elementary School, students went on a litter-picking walk to better understand the impact of their actions. Photo: Kemas Duga Muis/Trees4Trees
According to the State of the World’s Forests (SOFO) 2022, our planet has lost approximately 10% (420 million hectares) of forest cover in the last 30 years.
As highlighted by UNICEF, children are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of environmental problems, which impact their health, education, and overall well-being.
Children are the future stewards of our planet. To ensure the long-term survival of the natural world, we must equip the next generation with the environmental knowledge they need to care for our planet.
Writer: V. Arnila Wulandani. Editor: Christopher Alexander
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