Reforesting the Kedunglarangan watershed is restoring groundwater levels and boosting the local agri-economy
The slopes of Mount Arjuna in Pasuruan district of the East Java province have traditionally been a source of large quantities and good quality of groundwater, which sustains life and industries in the region. Vegetation and tree cover, which hold rainwater around watersheds and regulate its drainage, are crucial for efficient functioning of the local hydrological system. However, over the past few decades, the forest cover on Mount Arjuna has gradually depleted resulting in depleted springs and groundwater reserves.
Protecting forests and their surrounding ecosystems is essential for nourishing the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way. Cargill is committed to eliminating deforestation from its supply chains and achieving sustainable water management in its operations and priority watersheds. To that end, Cargill’s business in Indonesia – PT. Sorini Agro Asia Corporindo, Tbk – has been working in collaboration with the local government and the Cempaka Foundation since 2014 to replenish the forest cover and restore the groundwater levels in the areas near the Kedunglarangan Watershed.
The trees that have been planted include those that bear avocado, banana, clove, jackfruit, and lemon; some yield coffee; some flourish even during the dry season; and some serve as food for goats. The latter is a deliberate choice, as most villagers here are goatherds.
The program yielded almost immediate results, with the livestock farmers seeing an increase in the number of goats to over 80 within a year. It has become self-sustaining since then, with the local communities caring for the trees they helped plant, and their goat farming business flourishing by the side. There has also been a notable increase in the numbers and species of birds seen in the forest.
Meanwhile, the trees planted from 2014-2017 have started yielding produce. Aided by Cempaka and Cargill, the locals harvest the coffee beans and fruits and sell them to earn additional income.
Cargill is committed to eliminating deforestation from our agricultural supply chains globally to be deforestation and conversion-free (DCF) by 2030, and this commitment to sustaining our most important natural resources begins with the stewards of our earth – farmers. To protect our lands tomorrow, we must invest in their health and resiliency today. By innovating and implementing sustainable solutions that preserve our lands, conserve water sources, and support farming resiliency, we can help people and communities thrive for the long term.
The villagers are highly appreciative of the program. “The agroforestry practices that Cempaka Foundation and Cargill introduced to us have been beneficial,” says one of the forest farmers. “We take care of the trees and our goats, both at once. We have shifted from being spectators to becoming active participants in protecting the forest and also reaping good financial outcomes that help us take care of our household needs and children’s schooling.”
Cempaka Foundation is also encouraging youth participation in the program by educating them through various environmental awareness activities.