By: Masayu Yulien Vinanda

Bandung (08/12)-For the very first time, WWF-Indonesia and Directorate General of Land Rehabilitation and Social Forestry (RLPS) Department of Forestry demonstrated the implementation of tree monitoring using geotagging to the President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Geotagging for monitoring vegetation has previously been implemented in WWF-Indonesia’s reforestation initiative called NEWtrees.

In the celebration of Indonesia Tree Planting Day and National Tree Planting Month, Tuesday (08/12), in Pasir Malang, Cimerang Village, Padalarang subdistrict, West Bandung District, West Java Province, the President led symbolic tree planting. He planted Red Jabon (Anthocephalus macro phylus), followed by First Lady Ani Bambang Yudhoyono planting white jabon. Minister of Forestry Zulkifli Hasan and his wife Soraya Zulkifli Hasan, and 200 inivitees comprising senior officials, the ambassadors, and corporation representatives. The location of tree planting is water catchment area for Saguling reservoir, a part of Citarum Watershed which is used to generate electricity, promote fisheries and recreation.

After planting tree, President and his entourage visited stand located near from tree planting location, one of them was joint stand WWF-Indonesia and Directorate General of Land Rehabilitation and Social Forestry (RLPS). WWF-Indonesia seized this opportunity to present geotagging technology as an instrument which enables tree monitoring. The recent photos and tree planting coordinates of the President, Ani Yudhoyono, The Minister and his wife Soraya were uploaded in Google Earth. Few minutes later, those 4 photos were displayed in a big screen television.

That tree monitoring technology was highly appreciated by SBY. Geotag technology which can be accessed through Google Earth and Yahoomap is a breakthrough in tree monitoring. It is easier, real time, and simple. Any can monitor their trees using their private cellphone which provides GPS and internet connection. The president and some senior officials also received NEWtrees certificate mentioning tree coordinates and tree planting date.
”WWF-Indonesia is already familiar with geotagging. Since we have previously implemented it for the last two years in Sebangau National Park and Rinjani Protected Forest. I believe that this is an easy and effective way to monitor tree growth. This differentiates NEWtrees from other tree planting program. Tree planting action should be followed by good mechanism of vegetation monitoring,”  WWF-Indonesia Director of Governance, Corporate Engagement, and Community Empowerment Nazir Foead said.

WWF-Indonesia working with Directorate General of Land Rehabilitation and Social Forestry on monitoring and evaluation development of Watershed from the aspect of vegetation growth monitoring through information technology will be implemented not only in Citarum Watershed but also Ciliwung, Cimanuk, and Dodokan Watershed. It is also possible that it will be conducted in other Watershed.“

Through geotag, tree growth will be able to be monitored continuously. Every 6 month we receive tree growth update. This is a good vegetation monitoring. We will implement this in other Watershed, particularly critical Watershed. To date there are 108 Watershed categorized as 1st priority targeted for the period of 2009-2014,” Director of Watershed Management, Ministry of Forestry Silver Hutabarat said.
 
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