R

esidents along Wediombo coast in Girisubo, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta, have reforested more than 160 of the 500 hectares of forest in the area, transforming it into a densley-forested preserve.

The environmentally-conscious community in Wediombo formed the Wediombo Conservation Community (Permasi) in 2006 in an effort to organize environmental conservation in the area.

Permasi has successfully planted 20,000 seedlings of various species, 50 percent of which have survived and flourished.

"In January's rainy season we will plant 2,000 pandanus and 1,000 calophyllum trees along the coast as a barrier against the wind," Permasi head Soetadi Prawiro said recently.

Local residents have provided the pandanus and calophyllum seedlings. They collected the young pandanus plants in the Wediombo area, while the calophyllum seedlings mostly come from seeds found on the beach.

"The calophyllum seeds are carried by the river and many of them can be found on the beach, where they grow easily," he said.

Apart from reforestation purposes, the protective plants also act as a wind barriers, which protect residents' crops from being damaged by strong coastal winds.

Permasi has also developed productive fruit plantations, including rambutan, durian and mango. "Besides reforestation, those who grow these trees can yield profits in the future," he said.

To obtain the fruit trees, Soetadi and a number of other residents have chipped in to buy seedlings at the start of the rainy season. They have also submitted proposals to various agencies to provide them with tree seedlings.

"We also receive assistance in getting new seedlings from agencies such as the regional environ-ment office, NGOs, the Natural Resources Conservation Agency and various higher learning institutes," Soetadi said.

Local residents and Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University are currently making efforts to reintroduce a local variety of pine tree because it can easily grow in coastal areas and provides habitats to local swiftlets, many of which can still be found in the Gunungkidul area.

"Swiftlet nests made from *the pine* tree leaves can fetch Rp 50,000 *US$5* per kg. The price of nests made from other leaves can only fetch about Rp 5,000 per kg. So the local pine tree is also expected to provide economic profits to people in the area," said Soetadi.

Besides the reforestation drive, Permasi will also monitor the poaching of various animal species in the area, including birds. "No one dares hunt for birds here because we conduct joint patrols," said local resident Danang.

"The stretch of coast in Gunungkidul appears greener now and many animal species can be found in Wediombo. Other beaches are barren and poaching remains widespread," added Danang.