Karanganyar, Ekuatorial – As much as one garbage truck of trash collected by volunteers during their clean up initiative in Mount Lawu, Karanganyar, Central Java, on Sunday (24/5).
Around 225 climbers of Paguyuban Pecinta Alam Bersatu, in cooperation with Rescue Karanganyar Emergency, cleaned up Cemoro Kandang hiking trail, consists of four posts, from mineral water bottles, rice packs, instant noodle packs, and many more.
“We managed to collect as much as one garbage truck [of trash],” said Rifan, one of the volunteers. “As environment lovers, they should have protect the environment, care for it. Instead, they were leaving trash damaging the environment.”
Furthermore, he encouraged climbers to bring, at least, their own trash coming down from hiking. “We’re cleaning up the trail because we care and love the nature. We don’t want Lawu Mountain to be filled with garbage. As the host, we should be ashamed if the mountain if filled with trash. So, don’t litter the mountain,” he said.
In addition to protect Lawu Mountain, Karanganyar government had launched a reforestation program dubbed as ‘Karanganyar Ijo Royo-royo‘ (green karanganyar) which will be funded by the 2015 budget.
The program ensures the planting of 3,500 eucalyptus trees in hiking trails of Mount Lawu.
Juliyatmono, head of Karanganyar district, said that planting eucalyptus was to reserve water for people living in slope areas also they can function as hiking markers. In addition, Mount Lawu is categorized as prone to landslide in rainy season. “This type of tree is suitable for mountains,” he said adding that the planting location was along Cemoro Kandang hiking trails. Bramantyo