Preserve Tree Forests, Stop Planting "Concrete Forests"

Forests are among the systems that play a very vital role in the survival of organisms. Trees absorb carbon dioxide gas and at the same time produce oxygen for the world. In tropical regions, especially Indonesia, forests act as the lungs of the world in maintaining ecological balance.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), in Teknik Penanaman Spesies Pohon Penyerap Polutan (Techniques for Planting Pollutant-Absorbing Tree Species), states that 1 hectare of Green Open Space (RTH) filled with large trees can produce 0.6 tonnes of oxygen (O2) for 1,500 inhabitants per day and absorb 2.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.

Unfortunately, “green areas” are now beginning to be displaced by various factors, especially humans. Environmental damage  caused  by humans  has more  chronic  and  long-term  effects,  and  its effects  can be direct or indirect. Examples are illegal logging or forest burning for the construction of residential housing, office buildings, or recreational tourism.

According to records from FWI, through data from Potret Keadaan Hutan Indonesia (PKHI, the Portrait of Indonesia's Forest Condition) for the period 2013 to 2017, as much as 5.7 million hectares of forest and tree-covered land in Indonesia was lost, from 88.5 million to 82.8 million hectares. Then in 2019, as quoted from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, forest damage increased to 462,400 hectares.

The shift in land function into a “concrete jungle” causes environmental damage and the loss of flora and fauna habitat. The absence of absorbing and retaining material during rain is the reason landslides and floods often occur. Because carbon dioxide gas is no longer absorbed, the earth's temperature gets hotter and hotter due to the greenhouse effect. And if forests continue to be damaged, Indonesia's forests will run out in the future.

To address this, the government has made various efforts to handle this environmental problem. One example is Presidential Decree of the Republic of Indonesia Number 24 of 2008, which set 28 November as Indonesian Tree Planting Day (HMPI) and December as the national tree planting month, intended to raise awareness and concern among the public about the importance of restoring damaged forest and land resources through tree planting.

Planting trees in the surrounding environment is the foundation for restoring forests that lack trees. If this greening effort is carried out by everyone, a clean and healthy environment will be created. This is in line with the call of the 6th president, Mr. SBY, to the public regarding One Man One Tree (OMOT), namely that every person plants one tree.

Besides being a source of oxygen, trees also provide coolness when the Sun is blazing. With trees, the impact of global warming can be reduced. Trees have the ability to absorb carbon emissions, which are a cause of global warming as well as air pollution. Trees also help with greening to prevent floods and reduce the impact of acid rain. Trees with fibrous roots are useful for preventing erosion, which causes landslides.

Tree planting is not limited to the surrounding environment alone. Forests are also part of that environment. Therefore, forests also need to be reforested, that is, bare forests need to be replanted with forest tree species. Reforestation is a step in restoring forests to their original condition. With reforestation, it is hoped that the function of forests as the lungs of the world can be restored, while also becoming a comfortable place for the wildlife within them.

The Ministry of Agriculture in 2016 reported that HMPI is closely related to Indonesia's contribution to controlling climate change. Trees have a very important role for living things. Trees keep the earth's temperature cool. Trees also mitigate natural disasters by regulating the weather, stabilising the soil and preventing erosion.

With HMPI, a sense of ownership and responsibility towards nature can be carried out by all members of society. Protecting nature will save humans from destruction. Nature provides all of humanity's needs, endlessly. As Gandhi said, “Nature has enough to meet human needs. But nature never has enough to satisfy what is called the greed and avarice of the humans who use it”. Protect the forests. Protect nature