Greetings from Indonesia
The rainy season is drawing near, and we are preparing a new 50 hectares of land on which to plant trees. The plot is far away from the city in the foothills, and stands side by side with the lush natural forest of Mount Gede Pangrango. We chose this location in hopes that linking together the two forests—one cared for and grown by the local farmers participating in the project, and the other that has always will encourage the farmers to appreciate and cherish the natural forest of the mountain, too.
Progress in the reforestation project
The site of the reforestation project lies within Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park. As such, it is essential that we conduct our activities in cooperation with the park authorities. We meet regularly with the park staff to report the progress of our activities and to discuss what activities might be needed in future.
Progress in the reforestation project
We also continue to look after the 250 hectares of land we have reforested so far. Thanks to the devoted hard work of the participating farmers, the trees are in excellent condition.
Progress in the reforestation project
To diversify the sources of income and enrich the lives of the farmers, the project also offers agricultural support. In addition to the common beans and cucumbers we wrote about in previous reports, ginger is now harvested. Used for cooking and in drinks, ginger is vital to the Indonesian diet. The ginger harvested in the fields is taken to the local market for sale, and is starting to sustain the lives of the farmers.
Community agroforestry development
Huts like the one pictured here are a common sight in Indonesian villages. Although they are simple structures made from simple materials, they are wonderful for taking shelter from the harsh direct sunlight, and at times from the rain, and for taking short breaks between farm work. During harvest season, some farmers even spend the night in these huts and keep watch so that wild boars don't eat their delicious crops.
Huts
We continue to look after the signboard. It remained in good condition between July and September.
July 2013
August 2013
September 2013
