Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Environment and Deputy Head of the Environmental Control Agency (KLH/BPLH), Diaz Hendropriyono, has called on businesses to strengthen environmental action by planting more trees and mangroves to help improve air quality and enhance climate resilience.
The appeal was delivered on July 26 during ANTAM’s 58th anniversary “Green Movement” (Gerak Hijau) event in Jakarta, where the state-owned mining company planted 5,000 mangrove trees and distributed 1,000 tree seedlings as part of its sustainability commitment. The event gathered around 3,000 participants for a fun walk, mangrove planting, and environmental awareness activities.
Diaz praised ANTAM’s initiative, saying that clean air requires concrete action rather than awareness alone. He explained that trees play a critical role in producing oxygen, noting that an average person requires approximately 0.5 kilograms of oxygen per day, while a mature tree can produce around 1.2 kilograms daily. Based on this estimate, one to two trees are needed to support each person’s oxygen demand.
The deputy minister also highlighted the urgency of restoring Indonesia’s mangrove ecosystems, whose area has declined from approximately 4.4 million hectares to about 3.4 million hectares. He emphasized that mangrove rehabilitation is essential not only for coastal protection but also for improving environmental quality and mitigating climate change.
Diaz further warned that the anticipated return of El Niño later this year could worsen air pollution by increasing PM2.5 concentrations and raising the Air Quality Index (AQI), particularly through November and December. He noted that Jakarta’s AQI measured 104 on the morning of the event, underscoring the importance of maintaining cleaner air for public health and outdoor activities.
The Ministry of Environment said initiatives such as ANTAM’s Green Movement demonstrate how collaboration between government and the private sector can support environmental conservation while encouraging wider public participation in tree planting and ecosystem restoration. (*)
