Written by Petricia A. Hutasoit

During the last 2 months, Anak Sabangau Education Program initiated by BNF has done some activities at the new pondok in Kereng Bangkirai village. The pondok consists of two small temporary lodges in an open area with some trees around. Because Anak Sabangau has thematic enviromental education every month, we invited the Outrop personnel to help the children learn about Biodiversity.
The three staff; Hendri, Aman and Rahmadinur, were invited in order to share their work with children of 8 – 10 years old in the village who listened to the topic very curiously. Our staff shared about the species in the peat swamp forest which can sustain the living of the forest, animals and humans. The sharing session went well and it was primarily concerned about nursery of the Shorea Balangeran seedlings. It is important to be well-informed on how to find good seedlings, when to plant them, and how to take care of the seedlings after planting. Having Balangeran trees grow around pondok is propitiously beneficial as they are strong enough to survive in mixed peat ground.
After all the theoretical information given, every child was given a chance to have one seedling to plant. The children were asked by Outrop personnel to make a hole on the ground before having the seedlings planted. Our staff assisted the children in planting the seedlings to make sure that it was done properly. The sun was about to set as we finished the activity and the wind blew gently bringing the new hope that the hands of those little children would sustain the living through the trees that they planted today.
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Anak Sabangau planted the Shorea Balangeran seedlings