RRI.CO.ID, Situbondo - Hundreds of civil servants (ASN), students, and local community members across Situbondo Regency, East Java, joined forces on Wednesday to plant 20,000 tree seedlings in celebration of Earth Day 2026. The simultaneous movement, titled Situbondo Plants Trees to Save the Earth, targets critical areas identified as highly vulnerable to floods and landslides.

The reforestation effort is a direct response to recent environmental challenges in the region. By focusing on barren slopes and riverbanks, the local administration aims to strengthen soil structures and restore the area's natural groundwater absorption capacity.

"This activity is part of caring for the earth, especially since Situbondo has been hit by floods several times, and the most basic theory of flooding is because the forests are bare, therefore planting these trees is part of our effort besides praying," said Situbondo Regent Yusuf Rio Wahyu Prayogo during a planting event in Semambung Village, Jatibanteng subdistrict, as quoted by Antara.

Regent Rio emphasized that the initiative is rooted in an ecological commitment to balance human life with nature. He asserted that during his leadership, reforestation would remain a continuous strategy rather than a one-off ceremonial event.

"During my leadership, this tree planting movement will continue to run, and even beyond, because this is about our commitment to nature, love for the environment, and our ecological perspective," Rio remarked.

He further noted that the focus must shift from resource exploitation to resource creation through active greening. To ensure the long-term success of the project, the Situbondo Environmental Agency (DLH) has partnered with state-owned forestry company Perhutani and local residents to monitor and maintain the newly planted seedlings.

"Later, if any of the planted seedlings die, we will carry out replanting in collaboration with Perhutani and the communityt," explained Head of the Situbondo Environmental Agency Sandy Hendrayono.

The planting sites are spread across several key subdistricts, including Kendit, Mlandingan, Banyuglugur, and Jatibanteng. These locations were specifically chosen because they feature barren hillsides that pose a significant risk of disaster during heavy rainfall. ***