RRI.CO.ID, Balikpapan: Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, planted trees and handed over 1000 productive seedlings during a working visit. The activity took place in Balikpapan on Sunday, 1 March 2026. The agenda highlighted Indonesia’s commitment to forest rehabilitation and community participation.

Raja Juli Antoni planted trees with local stakeholders as part of the official visit program. He also symbolically handed over 1000 productive seedlings to the Chair of the Hidayatullah Islamic Boarding School Foundation. The initiative forms part of the ministry’s broader reforestation and greening movement.

The distribution of seedlings supports forest and land rehabilitation programs involving educational institutions and surrounding communities. The program also aims to strengthen food security and community-based forest economic resilience. The seedlings are expected to develop productive green areas within the pesantren environment.

Raja Juli Antoni emphasized the importance of environmental character building among students. He encouraged santri to actively participate in planting and caring for trees consistently. He then delivered his message to the students of Hidayatullah.

“I hope Hidayatullah students have a strong and distinct identity, namely as a generation that loves the environment, maintains cleanliness, and actively plants and cares for trees. Loving nature and forests is not only part of learning, but becomes a character embedded in every student,” Raja Juli Antoni said.

The seedlings are also intended as practical educational tools for environmental awareness. Students are expected to gain direct experience in forest conservation and land management. The initiative promotes sustainable green development within educational institutions.

On the same occasion, a Cooperation Agreement was signed between the Director General of Watershed Control and Forest Rehabilitation of the Ministry of Forestry and the Chair of the Central Executive Board of Hidayatullah. The agreement strengthens synergy in implementing forest and land rehabilitation programs. It also supports sustainable pesantren-based greening initiatives.

Through this activity, the Ministry of Forestry continues encouraging active public participation in rehabilitation efforts nationwide. Islamic boarding schools are viewed as strategic partners in environmental education and conservation. The program aims to ensure sustainable forest management for future generations across Indonesia.