President launches trembesi-tree planting movement

Antara News, Wednesday, January 13, 2010 12:26 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace here on Wednesday launched a trembesi-tree planting movement in an effort to help reduce global warming.

The president did the launching at 9 a.m on Wednesday in a compound located between the State Palace and Merdeka Palace where two trembesi trees are already growing.

The two trembesi trees were planted by Indonesia`s first president, Soekarno. The species, also known as samanea saman or rain tree, has an extraordinary capability to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), the gas contributing to global warming.

Trembesi trees are native to Latin America but can also grow well in tropical countries such as Indonesia.

The tree also has great capability to absorb ground water, while according to research conducted by the Forestry Faculty of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB), a tremebsi tree trunk can absorb as much as 28 tons of CO2 in a year.

The trembesi-tree-planting movement was launched was part of the president`s "one man, one tree" policy to save the environment.

The event was also attended by members of the National Defense Forces (TNI), National Police and academic institutions, representatives of non-governmental organizations as well as cabinet ministers including Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto, and Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta.

On the occasion, President Yudhoyono also symbolically presented one million trembesi tree seedlings to all provincial governors in the country to be planted in their respective regions.

Meanwhile, President Yudhoyono`s schedule for the rest of the day included a meeting with former Vice President Jusuf Kalla at his office.

Kalla would meet Yudhyono in his capacity as the new chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI). It would be Kalla`s first meeting with the head of state since Yudhoyono was inaugurated for his second term in office for the 2009-2014 term.

According to an agenda distributed by the presidential media and press bureau, President Yudhoyono was scheduled to receive the new Indonesian Red Cross chairman at his office on Wednesday.

Kalla was elected PMI chief at the organization`s 19th national conference on December 22, 2009. He replaces Mar`ie Muhammad who has held the position for more than two terms.

Long time no see: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (right) meets with the new Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) chairman Jusuf Kalla, his former deputy. Kalla discussed the PMI’s plans for the next five years with Yudhoyono. Presidential Office/Editiawarman

Related Articles:

Kalla meets SBY before testifying

RI to send relief team to Haiti: SBY

President praises Kalla`s ability to solve problems

RI signs bilateral funding agreements