Enviro News Asia, South Sumatra – Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni inaugurated the Sriwijaya Kemampo Nursery Center at the Kemampo Special Purpose Forest Area (KHDTK) in Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra, on Friday (August 7).
The inauguration marks a strategic step by the Ministry of Forestry to strengthen the supply of high-quality seedlings for forest and land rehabilitation while supporting the ASRI Movement, which stands for Safe, Healthy, Clean, and Beautiful and has been promoted by President Prabowo Subianto.
In his remarks, Raja Juli Antoni emphasized that successful forest development begins with the availability of high-quality seedlings.
“Building forests does not begin with planting trees, but with preparing superior seedlings that are suited to site conditions. The Sriwijaya Kemampo Nursery Center is the starting point, not an addition, to all forest and land rehabilitation efforts that we will carry out in the future,” the minister said.
The Sriwijaya Kemampo Nursery Center covers six hectares and has an annual production capacity of up to five million seedlings. The facility is equipped with 18 integrated facilities and supporting infrastructure, including a mother plant house, rooting house, shading house, selection house, water treatment plant, reservoir, and production facilities designed to support modern and sustainable seedling production.
The nursery produces various timber species, including sengon, mahogany, and meranti, as well as Multi-Purpose Tree Species (MPTS) such as petai, jengkol, durian, and avocado. It also produces ornamental species, including ketapang kencana and tabebuya.
All seedlings are provided free of charge to support forest and land rehabilitation as well as community-led planting initiatives. Individuals may apply for up to 2,000 seedlings, while community groups and government institutions may request up to 10,000 seedlings.
According to Raja Juli Antoni, the nursery is also part of Indonesia’s commitment to supporting the rehabilitation of degraded land, a target highlighted by President Prabowo Subianto at international forums.
The initiative is particularly important in South Sumatra, where hundreds of thousands of hectares of degraded and critical land still require rehabilitation through joint efforts.
The Sriwijaya Kemampo Nursery Center was developed through collaboration between the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Public Works, and APP Group, following the signing of a memorandum of understanding in 2023.
The nursery is now operational and is expected to serve as a major source of high-quality seedlings to support ecosystem restoration and greening initiatives in South Sumatra and surrounding areas. (*)
