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10,000 ‘trembesi’ trees to shelter the Semarang – Batang toll road
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Plant the seeds: A Djarum Foundation officer (right, in green shirt) is watering the first trembesi plant that will grace the Semarang – Batang toll road as part of the foundation’s Djarum Trans-Java Trees for Life (DTFL program) as Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo (left) looks on. Seeking to reduce carbon emission on toll roads with the help of the trembesi trees since 2010, all the trees planted throughout the program can absorb more than 2.7 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. (Photo courtesy of Djarum Foundation)
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jarum Foundation recently kick started a program to plant 10,000 trembesi trees along a 75-kilometer stretch of the toll road connecting Batang regency in Central Java with the city of Surabaya in East Java. The program was also marked by a sports tourism event called the 2018 Tour de Borobudur along the route covered by the toll road.
The foundation has chosen to plant trembesi trees due to their capability of absorbing 28.5 tons of carbon dioxide annually.
The toll road, intended to increase industrial connectivity between the two locations, is currently under construction and has reached 80 percent completion.
The official launch of the tree planting activity along the Semarang – Batang toll road was held on Nov. 3, and was attended by Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, Djarum Foundation vice president F.X. Supanji as well as toll road operator PT Jasamarga Semarang Batang project leader R. Beni Dwi Septiadi.
The first tree was planted on the Kali Kuto Bridge, which will become an icon of the toll road once it opens in late December 2018.
Ganjar said he was pleased the toll road could enjoy the environmental conservation program thanks to Djarum Foundation’s commitment
“This toll road is a national strategic program that must be successful in opening the trans-Java lane. For this reason, the number of vehicles that will pass with exhaust emissions must be balanced by planting as many trees as possible,” he said.
“Thank you to the Djarum Foundation, which has actively planted trembesi trees. Hopefully, the toll road will also become more beautiful with the presence of the trembesi trees,” he continued.
The initiative is a continuation of the foundation’s Djarum trans-Java Trees for Life (DTFL) program, which involves the planting of trees across most of all trans-Java toll roads. Besides planting these trees, the foundation also maintains their well-being by nurturing them.
Ganjar Pranowo (fourth left, standing behind) after the official launch of Djarum Foundation’s trembesi tree-planting initiative along the Semarang-Batang toll road. The foundation will plant 10,000 trembesi trees along the toll road, which stretches over 75 kilometers. ">
Since 2010, the DTFL has covered 2,220 kilometers in its tree-planting endeavors. It is estimated that these plants altogether can absorb more than 2.7 million tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Supanji said Djarum Foundation was working together with the Jasa Marga Semarang-Batang toll road operator to conserve the environment for the sake of a better life in the future.
“As we all know, toll roads remain a vital transportation route for so many people and materials. Therefore, we need to plant trees along them to provide passersby cooler air while absorbing carbon dioxide emissions to mitigate global climate change,” he said.
