By: Masayu Yulien Vinanda
Jakarta (16/06)-A total of 10 thousand trees will be planted in the Upper Ciliwung Subwatershed catchment area, Cisarua District, Bogor Regency, West Java in November 2011. This important step in watershed restoration is a manifestation of the "Give and Grow" campaign initiated by Nokia Indonesia. The program seeks to encourage the public to give back to the community.
The program seeks to encourage the public to donate used mobile phones, accessories, and battery chargers. The collected e-waste is then recycled by TESS-AMM into useful and marketable items. The funds raised from this recycling process are then donated to NEWtrees, WWF-Indonesia's reforestation program.
The Ciliwung watershed is currently the main focus of NEWtrees. Aside from the fact that the location is included in the Forestry Department's priority zone, the Ciliwung watershed also plays an important role for the livelihood of Jabodetabek residents. Through reforestation efforts, it is expected to increase the carrying capacity of the watershed while reducing the risk of natural disasters such as floods.
According to Country Manager Nokia Indonesia, Bob McDougall, the public's enthusiasm for the Give and Grow campaign launched in 2009 prompted Nokia Indonesia to launch a similar campaign again in 2011. The launch of the 2011 Give and Grow campaign was held in conjunction with the commemoration of the World Day to Combat Land Degradation and Drought. To mark the launch of the program, Nokia Indonesia will dedicate 10,000 trees to be planted on behalf of participating consumers.

"We have been working with WWF-Indonesia, especially the NEWtrees program, since 2009. Not only in the Ciliwung watershed, previously we also participated in reforestation programs in the National Park and Sebangau. To date, Nokia Indonesia has planted 116 thousand trees. With the Give and Grow 2011 campaign, we invite all consumers to donate their used cell phones as a form of their participation in efforts to save the environment," Bob explained.
The Give and Grow campaign also received support from Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan. According to him, the mobile phone recycling program is in line with one of the Ministry of Forestry's programs, the One Billion Tree Planting Movement. Through the program, the government seeks to increase public awareness to actively plant trees in the context of forest and land rehabilitation efforts.
"This cooperation is expected to increase public awareness and encourage them to do more to save biodiversity through tree planting activities," added Zulkifli during the launch of the Nokia Give and Grow 2011 campaign, Wednesday (15/06), at Graha Niaga, Central Jakarta.

In line with the Minister of Forestry, Executive Director Indonesia Dr. Efransjah also welcomed Nokia Indonesia's support for WWF-Indonesia's reforestation program, NEWtrees. The Give and Grow campaign, according to him, is able to encourage public awareness and contribution to efforts to save the environment. Previously, in February 2010, 4,000 trees were also planted on 10 hectares of land in the upper Ciliwung watershed at the peak of the 2009 Nokia Give and Grow campaign. "To appreciate our consumers' participation in the reforestation program, we would like to thank them for their participation.
"To appreciate consumers' participation in the Nokia Give and Grow program, WWF-Indonesia will provide a certificate that includes the ordinate of the tree. Through the Google Earth facility, the certificate owner can monitor the progress of his/her tree vegetation. This is what makes NEWtrees different from other reforestation programs where every individual can be directly involved in tree monitoring activities," concluded Efransjah.