WIKA Plants Endemic Rare Trees In Wikasatrian

Photo: Doc. Antara

JAKARTA - PT Wijaya Karya (Persero) Tbk (WIKA) simultaneously, Friday, planted 6,400 trees in various company project and operational sites throughout Indonesia, including planting 64 rare endemic trees in the Wikasatrian forest area, Bogor Regency, West Java, as a form of the company's concern for the environment.

The activity was carried out in the framework of the 64th Anniversary of WIKA. Director of Human Capital and Management of PT WIKA Tbk Hadjar Seti Adji in Megamendung, Bogor Regency, West Java, said the 64 rare trees planted consisted of 29 species.

"We are working with the National Innovation Research Agency (BRIN). Because the trees are from BRIN also in an area called Purisatrian," said Hadjar after planting, as reported by Antara.

Hadjar explained, WIKA has been working with BRIN for this year to conduct research in the Wikasarian forest. This research is done for biodiversity, or the diversity of fauna flora in the forest.

"Where exactly is the forest from Wikastrian considered as a strategic forest in preserving biological resources. And BRIN has been doing research since this year," he said.

He said this planting was carried out in the Purisatrian area, which is a new 4 hectare forest, while the Wikastrian area has an area of 10 hectares.

Hadjar stated that WIKA is committed to environmental awareness and preserving forests. He hopes that similar companies can be inspired by what WIKA is doing.

This forest is a natural forest, where there is a complete chain. So we don't intervene in anything, really the process of flora and fauna has closed each other," he said.

Hadjar said, WIKA focuses and concentrates on forest development to be preserved, not for production. For example, the learning center in Wikasatrian is only 3,500 squares that stand on 10 hectares of forest.

"That's what causes us to be very concerned about developing our issue, and we are a bit echoing everywhere. In order to be an inspiration to other parties, that biodiversity is a very important sustainability for a natural rich Indonesia," he said.

Researcher from the BRIN's Ecology & Etnobotani Research Center, Kusuma Dewi Sri Yulita, said that the endemic trees planted are rare and difficult to find. One of them is the PS Ashto bilitonensis Hopea or a stall from Bangka Belitung.

Yulita mengatakan, dengan menanam pelepak di hutan Wikasatrian, secara tidak langsung WIKA menyelamatkan keberadaan tanaman tersebut.

"One time in Biliton there was an infrastructure development and its natural habitat ran out, so the stock is still here," he said.

In addition, there are also several rare Indonesian local fruit suggested by BRIN to be planted in Wikasarian. Such as the yellow forest from Kalimantan, the bilimbing Papua from Papua, the nasal randu from Java, and the hena-hena from Maluku.

There are several local Indonesian fruits such as oranges. Then there are also a few aromatic plants, there are several types of palms," said Yulita.