%20Plant nurseries

The project
Significance and aims
Results
Plans and needs



Project name: Tree nursery for fruit trees, sugar palms and other useful tree species		Location: Tomohon, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

The project

Tens of thousands of young trees are presently being cultivated in this nursery each year. These are then planted in reforestation projects located in various parts of the Minahasa (the northern part of the North Sulawesi province). The planting is done with the help of schools, church congregations and NGOs.

Sugar palms and cempaka trees are also made directly available to local farmers. By means of a short contract with Masarang, the farmer pledges to maintain the tree according to the instructions and to plant five new trees for every mature tree felled. Masarang provides the new caretakers of the trees with instructions and advice on their maintenance and Masarang oversees cultivation. Finally, Masarang is nationally accredited (in Indonesia) as a certified supplier of sugar palms (plus trees).

Back to top

Significance and aims of the project

The trees that are cultivated are used for reforestation, which contributes to fighting poverty, creates jobs, saves endangered animals and plants, combats global climate change, increases the availability of clean water, counteracts erosion, and benefits moisture and temperature regulation. For more information, see Masarang Reforestation Project.

Trees in danger of extinction are also cultivated in the nursery and in this way can be preserved and take their place in the ecosystem. The Kaima is a beautiful fruit tree that was once nearly extinct but is now being cultivated by Masarang and planted among other trees in many places. The Palawas, rare variety of Eugenia, is another example.

Back to top

Results

More than 750 small-scale farmers have been provided with seedlings so that they can engage in sustainable agriculture.

A variety of tree species (more than 100 rare species have been cultivated in the Masarang mountain range), helping to preventing their extinction.

Masarang nurseries have on average contributed about 100,000 seedlings per year for reforestation.

Back to top

Future plans and needs

We like to continue distributing young trees to reforest steep mountain slopes in a larger area. We are also in the process of setting up a new nursery for specially selected highly productive sugar palms. Additionally we like to acquire 80 hectares of land for reforestation when financial resources so permit.

Back to top