KDM Will Roll Out the Concept of Eternal Trees Starting in 2026 to Protect Forests

West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi gives information at the Gedung Sate Bandung. (ANTARA/HO Pemprov Jabar)

BANDUNG - West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi will roll out the concept of an eternal tree in West Java, including in West Java's production forests, starting in 2026, as a step to maintain forests in this province.

"These trees in West Java are in production forests. But by me they can't be cut down today, and this is said to be an immortal tree," said Dedi in a statement in Bandung, Friday, December 19, reported by ANTARA.

Forests in West Java, said Dedi, need to be maintained, given that the current area is only around 700 thousand hectares, and according to him, there are not necessarily trees planted.

"The 700 thousand hectares are the map of the area, it is on the map, in the Ministry of Forestry it is called a forest, it is not necessarily a tree. In the land data, the forest area, it could be that there are no trees," said Dedi.

Dedi said he would buy trees in the forest. According to him, the step of buying trees was taken because the cost of reforestation was more expensive.

"Buy (the tree), because the cost of reforestation is more expensive than buying a tree," he said.

Dedi added that to realize this concept, a budget had been prepared and would be executed in 2026.

"Starting in the 2026 fiscal year, (funds) we have prepared," he said.