Enviro News Asia, Tangerang – The AEON Environmental Foundation (AEF) launched the first phase of the “Tangerang Tree Planting” initiative at Ketapang Mangrove Park in Tangerang, Banten.
This tree planting activity involved 200 volunteers of various ages and backgrounds.
The event began with a symbolic tree planting on Saturday morning (July 19, 2025), attended by Nishihara Kensaku representing AEON Environmental Foundation, Secretary of Tangerang Regency Soma Atmaja, Inge Retnowati (Director of Conservation and Biodiversity at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry), and Mely Salim from the Emil Salim Institute.
The decision to plant mangroves in Tangerang was based on a recommendation by environmental expert Emil Salim.
Mangroves were chosen for their many benefits: they prevent coastal erosion, provide breeding grounds for marine animals, and are highly effective in combating the impacts of climate change.
“AEF is the first private organization in Japan dedicated to addressing global environmental issues,” said Nishihara. He explained that since its establishment, AEF has collaborated with communities across the globe, academic institutions, and research organizations to carry out reforestation and environmental education initiatives.
“For this tree planting activity, we partnered with the Tangerang Regency Government and the Emil Salim Institute to plant 1,000 mangrove trees. We hope this effort will help preserve the coastal environment in Tangerang as part of AEON’s ongoing commitment in Indonesia,” Nishihara added.
Founded in Japan in 1990, AEF has planted over 12.68 million trees in 11 countries. In Indonesia, AEF has been conducting tree planting activities since 2011, primarily in the Jakarta area. From 2011 to 2024, a total of 94,000 trees were planted by 8,100 volunteers from both Japan and Indonesia through six planting events.
In mid-2025, AEF conducted its first tree planting event in the Tangerang area, specifically at Ketapang Mangrove Park. (*)
