DTFL Reduces Carbon Footprint with 23,000 Trembesi Trees on Trans Sumatra

The Djarum Foundation's Environmental Service (BLDF) thru the Djarum Trees for Life (DTFL) program handed over trembesi trees along two sections of the Bakauheni–Palembang toll road. The handover of these 23,171 trembesi trees was given to the two toll road management partners, namely PT Bakauheni Terbanggi Besar Toll and PT Waskita Sriwijaya Toll Road. The symbolic handover ceremony, which involved the presentation of a trembesi tree model, was witnessed by the Governor's Expert Staff for Government, Law, and Politics, the Director of the Deputy for Carbon Economic Management and Value Engineering at the Ministry of Environment, the Head of the Lampung Province Environmental Service, the Head of the Lampung Province Forestry Service, and members of the Toll Road Regulatory Agency from the Ministry of Public Works Stakeholders. This program is a manifestation of BLDF's commitment to support the government's mission thru the Ministry of Public Works in building sustainable infrastructure that considers social, economic, and environmental aspects. This step is also an effort to minimize carbon emissions from the transportation sector.

In 2024, BLDF, thru the DTFL program, held a ceremonial handover of trembesi trees with management partners along five toll road sections in Central and East Java. As of now, the number of trembesi trees planted has reached 203,641. This initiative then developed rapidly, especially with synergy alongside other toll road management partners, including in Trans Sumatra. "Together with two Trans Sumatra toll road management partners, we have completed planting and maintenance, which is a real step toward reducing carbon," said BLDF Program Director Jemmy Chayadi.

Four years ago, BLDF, along with PT Bakauheuni Terbanggi Besar Toll and PT Waskita Sriwijaya Toll Road, planted 8,728 trembesi seedlings, which increased to 19,124 seedlings along the Bakauheni-Terbanggi Besar toll road. This planting program marks the beginning of efforts to support sustainable green development in the southern tip of Sumatra. To date, over 23,000 trembesi seedlings have successfully greened a 179 km stretch of toll road. Not only did DTFL plant the trees, but they also provided three years of maintenance to ensure optimal growth.

Lampung remains committed to driving better development progress. Planting 23,171 trembesi trees signifies that we are planting hope, as the trembesi tree provides significant benefits for life and the future. This movement is a positive step toward achieving a balance in development. Because we realize that economic growth must go hand in hand with the preservation of life. "This tree planting initiative by BLDF is expected to inspire the people of Lampung to green their environment," said the Governor's Expert Staff for Government, Law, and Politics, representing the Governor of Lampung in his remarks at the handover ceremony.

Planting trembesi trees around this infrastructure is one of the adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate change. Because the trembesi tree has the highest carbon dioxide absorption capacity, estimated to absorb up to 28.5 tons of carbon emission gas. "This BLDF effort is a pioneer in tree planting, so it is hoped that this tree planting action needs to be promoted," said Prof. Rahmat Safe'i during the discussion session titled "23,171 Trembesi for a Green Future: Planting Trembesi, Absorbing Emissions."

Trembesi trees are planted as early as possible so that the trees are large enough to absorb carbon emissions from vehicles traveling on the Trans Sumatra toll road. In the future, BLDF will remain committed to contributing to collaborative efforts to control climate change.