Low Tech Solutions Return Us to Work WITH Mother Nature

One-billion-tree planting to cut emissions : Gusti Quotes SBY
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 06:17 WIB | National | | Viewed 460 time(s)
Bogor, W Java (ANTARA News) - Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said on Tuesday the government is committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent through a one-billion-tree planting campaign.

The trees would be planted on 1.6 million hectares of land nationwide, he said.

"President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono himself wants 1 billion trees planted across Indonesia in 2010. The move is aimed at achieving the government`s target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 26 percent," he said.

Gusti said his office would always monitor the realization of the program in each region until the number of trees planted reached one billion.

He called on regional governments to ensure the success of the program by launching one-man-one-tree campaigns. If a province had a population of 50 million there would be 50 million new trees.

"We will monitor the program and record any tree-planting activities in regions to see if the number of new trees has reached 1 billion," he said.

He said the campaigns were effective to cut greenhouse gas emissions because trees functions as emission absorbents.

The current increase in greenhouse gas emissions was contributed not only by greenhouse effect but also by deforestation, he said. (*)