KBRN, Banjar: The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) has successfully planted over 1.3 million tree seedlings across the country through various rehabilitation schemes up to November 2025. This massive effort is part of a strategic national commitment to accelerate environmental recovery and achieve ambitious climate goals.

Herban Heryandana, Secretary of the Directorate General of Forestry Planning at Kemenhut, said this following a simultaneous tree-planting event for the 2025 Indonesian Tree Planting Day (HMPI) at Tahura Sultan Adam, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan, on Tuesday, November 25, 2025

The nationwide tree-planting mobilization is not merely a ceremony but a crucial, ongoing effort. "On this planting occasion, HMPI 2025 is a sustainable movement for national environmental recovery," Herban said, as quoted by Antara.

In South Kalimantan, Herban led the planting of 5,500 seedlings across five hectares in a river basin area (DAS) rehabilitation zone, involving approximately 200 participants from government, academia, communities, and the public.

“This activity also strengthens collaboration toward the FOLU Net Sink 2030 target,” Herban added, referencing Indonesia's target to achieve net carbon sequestration in its Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) sectors.

The national planting event was led virtually by Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni from the main location at Mount Merapi National Park, Central Java. There are 31 provinces, including South Kalimantan simultaneously followed it.

Minister Antoni addressed the participating regions virtually, stressing that the 2025 HMPI is an integral part of President Prabowo Subianto's commitment to accelerate the recovery of 12 million hectares of degraded forests and lands.

"This planting is not just a ceremony, but a national strategy to face climate change, restore river basins, and strengthen the economic value of carbon through Presidential Regulation 110 of 2025," he clarified that the planting campaign transcends simple symbolism.

The Minister urged all parties not only to plant the seeds but also to ensure their protection and maintenance so they can grow into productive, healthy forests.

The efforts are already showing results at the local level. Ariadi Noor, Assistant for Economic and Development Affairs at the South Kalimantan Provincial Secretariat, affirmed that the HMPI event solidifies ecological awareness in the province.

"Critical land in South Kalimantan has been significantly reduced from 511,594 hectares in 2018 to 458,478 hectares in 2022 through various forest rehabilitation efforts and the control of forest and land fires," he revealed.

“Every seed planted is an environmental investment for the future. It is our shared duty to ensure the trees grow, are maintained, and become part of a forest that provides ecological and socioeconomic benefits to the community," Fathimatuzzahra, Head of the South Kalimantan Provincial Forestry Office, reiterated the importance of follow-through. ***