By: Shera Fanesha (Corporate Relation Staff) & Natalia T. Agnika

A series of collaborative activities between WWF-Indonesia and PT Indofood in the NEWtrees program has been completed. The activities, which began on March 22, 2015 and lasted until 2017, were intended as an effort to preserve protected forests, especially in Jumok Block, Mulyosari Village, Pagerwojo District, Tulungagung and support its function in preserving Wonorejo Reservoir, preserving water sources, and preventing floods and landslides.

NEWtrees is a WWF-Indonesia program that can involve institutions or individuals to help reforest protected areas or conservation areas. In the monitoring process, NEWtrees uses the geotags method (trees are labeled with location coordinates) and data storage is centralized in the NEWtrees database.

The planting of NEWtrees in collaboration with PT Indofood can take place well due to the support and cooperation of Perhutani Kediri Forest Management Unit (KPH). In its implementation, WWF-Indonesia planted, maintained, and replanted the trees involving the local community, namely the Forest Village Community Organization (LMDH) Sumber Lestari.

Planting activities as many as 5,000 seedlings were carried out in four stages within the period of March 22, 2015 to April 16, 2015. Meanwhile, maintenance and replanting of plants (replacement of dead plants) were carried out in 2016 and 2017. The rehabilitated land area in Jumok covers an area of 10 hectares. The land was planted with timber and fruit crops, such as sengon buto, pucung, kluwih, durian, avocado, guava, matoa, and jackfruit. The planting of various fruit plants is expected to become a new source of income for the community around Jumok Block when they bear fruit later.

The NEWtrees activities that have been implemented by WWF-Indonesia together with PT Indofood are expected to have a positive impact on the people there, both ecologically and economically.

Hopefully, this partnership will inspire other companies to take part in reforestation actions throughout Indonesia. For more information about various partnerships in WWF-Indonesia's corporate partnership and conservation programs, please contact corporate@wwf.id.