By Masayu Yulien Vinanda and Jacqui Fetchet
Bogor (2/02)-Marking the first phase of reforestation in upper Ciliwung watershed, 4000 trees were planted yesterday, Tuesday (02/02) in Cikoneng village, Cisarua Sub-district, Bogor, West Java. The trees planting highlighted in the peak of Nokia Give and Grow campaign was funded by Nokia and TESS-AMM as their real support for WWF-Indonesia reforestation initiative called NEWtrees.
Nokia Give & Grow launched on August 2009 has successfully collected 10,000 used cellphones and used accessories from 97 drop boxes throughout Indonesia. This electronic waste was recycled by TESS-AMM and transformed into useful stuff which has economic value. The money collected from this activity then was donated to NEWtrees program.
The trees planting activity in 10 ha area of upper Ciliwung watershed was attended by Nokia Indonesia Country Manager Bob McDougall, WWF-Indonesia Presidum Tati Darsoyo, WWF-Indonesia Executive Board Shinta Kamdani and Pia Alisjahbana, Director General for Land Rehablitation and Social Forestry, Ministry of Forestry Ir. Indriastuti MM, WWF-Indonesia Director of Governance, Corporate Engagaement and Community Empowerment (GCCE) Nazir Foead and WWF-Indonesia Director of Marketing and Communication Devy W.A. Suradji.

“We are very happy working with WWF-Indonesia and TESS-AMM in saving our environment through reforestation. From this trees planting in Ciliwung watershed, Nokia wants to show our customers that Nokia as a green company has commitment to saving the environment and supporting Indonesia government program One Man One Tree,” said Bob McDougall opening the trees planting ceremony.
 
Director General for Land Rehabilitation and Social Forestry, Ir. Indriastuti MM hailed this initiative from Nokia-TESS AMM-WWF. “It’s such an enormous support for the government reforestation effort we have been conducting until now. On February 2009, we launched ‘One Man One Tree’ program. Now in 2010, we raised the target to ‘One Billion Indonesian Trees for The World’ or OBIT. This trees planting will become the first planting included in OBIT target.”
Ciliwung Watershed was chosen as the tree planting location since it is categorized as critical zone by Department of Forestry. Moreover, WWF also wants to give more contribution to Jabodetabek (Greater Jakarta) people.

“We have worked outside Java. For instance Kalimantan, Lombok, Sumatra, and recently NEWtrees also been conducted in Papua. Jabodetabek people have high expectations for WWF. This has inspired us to put more efforts in this area. In my opinion, Ciliwung watershed is a good choice since it plays a vital role for millions of people in Jakarta. Reforestation in Ciliwung watershed can also become a barometer. If Ciliwung watershed is successfully rehabilitated, the same efforts can also be replicated in other watersheds,” Nazir Foead said.

To appreciate public participation in this positive environmental business initiative, WWF will give NEWtrees certificate to all individuals who have given away their used cellphones or used cellphones accessories. The tree ordinates stated in the certificate can be used by the philanthropists to monitor their trees growth through Google Earth facility.
WWF believes this initiative is merely the beginning of a long and successful engagement between international businesses and the environment. WWF plays an important role to ensure the effectiveness of tree planting and to promote the expansion of the NEWtrees project. With climate change at the forefront of ‘green business’, it is only hoped that more companies will join in such initiatives as a way of reducing the their carbon footprint.