Tree plantings, book fairs and musical performances marked Earth Day celebrations in Greater Jakrta last week.
An institution that conducted tree plantings and distributed seeds was Trisakti University, planting 500 tree seeds with its employers and students Friday. The distribution began with the university's rector, Thoby Mutis, planting a Gandaria seed.
"This is part of our effort to show our concern for nature," Thoby said.
He added Trisakti University's Earth Day celebration kicked off since Thursday with an environmental seminar at Komunitas Salihara cultural center, South Jakarta.
The event was attended by well-known writer Goenawan Mohammad and 60 university students.
Thoby acknowledged his university had also utilized its land in Nagrak and Banyuasih in West Java to plant various tree species.
Okto, a second year student of the university who received a tree seed that day, said he supported the program because it promoted an environmentally friendly lifestyle.
"I will plant my tree in the area of the university I spend my breaks," said student Okto, who pledged to take good care of his tree.
However, he said the difficulty of tree planting programs were lack of land in Jakarta.
Similar to Okto, a university employer, Andi, said he would also treat the tree well due to his concern with a lack of sufficient rainfall. "I will plant my tree in my house yard in Tangerang," he said.
He considered the tree-planting program could be more effective if there was lessons on tree planting and nurturing.
At a separate event, Lazuardi Global Islamic School celebrated Earth Day with education-loaded events including an English Book Fair and Earth Day festivities.
The organizer said it aimed at raising awareness about caring for the planet through musical performance, workshops and environmental activities in its compound at Griya Cinere I, Depok, West Java.
In Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, West Java, an international audit and consultancy company, Mazaars, cooperating with Conservation International-Indonesia (CI-Indonesia) and Gedepahala (Gede, Pangrango, Halimun, Salak) Club also planted trees on 5 hectares of land in the park.
The effort is expected to help water reservation and create water catchments areas for 20 million people who live around the national park, West Java and Jakarta provinces, as well as preserving endangered animals in the park such as owa jawa monkeys, the Javanese eagle and leopard.
