By: Shera Fanesha & Eka Gona Putri

PT Bank Central Asia (BCA) and WWF-Indonesia once again collaborated in reforestation efforts in Indonesia through the NEWtrees program. This time the collaboration was carried out by planting mangroves in the Laban area, Ujung Kulon National Park area. Mangroves play an important role in the Ujung Kulon area as the only habitat for Javan Rhinos, namely as a link between the Ujung Kulon Peninsula and the mainland of Java Island which is threatened to break. The threat arises because of the high level of abrasion that can result in the extinction of the Javan Rhino population.

The mangrove planting took place on May 11-12, 2018 and was attended by BCA's Executive Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Inge Setiawati; Head of BCA KCU Serang, Lim Hauw Tjioe; WWF-Indonesia's Coral Triangle Program Director, Wawan Ridwan; Project Leader WWF Ujung Kulon, Kurnia Oktavia Khairani; and Head of Ujung Kulon National Park, Mamat Rahmat.

In the program, BCA rehabilitated 10 hectares of degraded land in the Laban block by planting mangroves of the species Rhizophora sp. and Avicennia sp. The considerable current is a challenge in planting mangroves in this area. Therefore, the planting process is carried out using a cluster system, which uses round bamboos that are tightly planted like a fence with a cluster of two front rows in the shape of an isosceles triangle as a wave breaker. Each cluster will be planted with around 20-30 trees. Thus, the planted trees will not be immediately damaged by the waves.

Before the planting activity took place, drh. Kurnia Oktavia Khairani, Project Leader Ujung Kulon informed BCA representatives about the current condition of Javan Rhinos in Ujung Kulon and how mangroves can protect rhino habitat and other coastal areas.

"We are grateful and welcome PT Bank Central Asia's renewed commitment to the environment by planting mangroves in Ujung Kulon, having previously played an active role in protecting sea turtle habitat in Pangumbahan, West Java with WWF-Indonesia a few years ago. The mangrove planting efforts in the NEWtrees program will not only rehabilitate the land but also maintain biodiversity both on land and in the sea," said Wawan Ridwan, Director of WWF-Indonesia's Coral Triangle Program.

BCA's mangrove planting efforts have involved communities from the nearby villages of Ujung Jaya, Legon Pakis Village and Cikawung Village, from nurseries to the creation of clusters. The community will also be involved in the planting process and monitoring.

On that occasion, Lim Hauw Tjioe, Head of BCA KCU Serang said, "We invite the surrounding community to be actively involved in the nursery, maintenance, planting and monitoring of mangrove tree growth which is expected to not only have a positive impact on the environment but further create a sense of belonging and alternative livelihoods for the community."

BCA has also previously carried out tree planting in various locations, such as the Mangrove Ecotourism area of Pantai Indah Kapuk Jakarta, Blanakan Subang, Tanggamus Lampung, Muara Kali Opak Yogyakarta, Teluk Lamong Surabaya, Lam Ujong Aceh Besar, Bengkayang West Kalimantan, Muara Gembong West Java, Wringin Putih Banyuwangi, and Pejarakan Bali.