By: Maya Bellina & Nina Nuraisyiah

Palangkaraya, June 1, 2012.A support for reforestation efforts in Sebangau National Park (TN), Central Kalimantan, was again shown by The Body Shop Indonesia through tree planting activities through the NEWtrees program scheme. 3000 trees were planted in an area of 7 ha with the species planted include jelutung (Dyera lowii), pulai (Alstonia sp.), and belangeran (Shorea balangeran). This is the second time the corporation has contributed to NEWtrees' reforestation program. Previously in 2010, 1,200 trees were planted by The Bodyshop in the conservation area.

With a total land area of 568,700 ha, Sebangau National Park is the largest peat swamp forest area in the world. In addition to being a habitat for 6,000 - 9,000 individual orangutans, this area also has an important function as a water catchment area and is able to supply clean water needs for the surrounding population.

Flanked by two major rivers, the Sebangau River and the Katingan River, Sebangau National Park has two main problems. Namely, the loss of forest that is the original habitat of orangutans due to massive exploitation of natural resources and the destruction of water management due to the construction of canals or large ditches that were used as transportation routes to transport timber from within the forest area. Damage to water management in peat swamp forest areas can lead to forest fires during the dry season. Central Kalimantan was once cited as the world's largest contributor to haze pollution during forest fires in 1998-1999.

According to WWF-Indonesia Central Kalimantan Program Manager, Rosenda Ch. Kasih, the characteristics of peat forests that are prone to catastrophic fires during the dry season and their ability to store high CO2 reserves make Sebangau National Park a very important area to protect.

"Not only from the aspect of saving the earth, the NEWtrees program is also carried out in tandem with a social capacity building program for the community around Sebangau. Since the beginning, the community has always been involved, from planning, canal blocking, tree planting, to monitoring activities. In the field, accompanied by WWF, the community implemented this program. Because they themselves will receive the benefits of recovering forest areas in Sebangau National Park," said Rosenda.

"The existence of strong sustainable support is very important, not only to ensure forest sustainability in the long term but also at the same time to improve the welfare of families and communities around it," she added.

Going forward, The Body Shop will continue its commitment by planting a minimum of 200 trees every time it opens a new store and this year's plan will increase to 12 outlets.

"We realize that the damage to nature that occurs today is at an alarming stage, the causes are complex and require large funds as well to restore to the initial condition. Therefore, The Body Shop has a high commitment to do something for nature either by directly repairing or inviting consumers to be actively involved in the environmentally conscious movement," concluded Head of Human Resources The Body Shop Indonesia, Toha Azhary.