Understanding The Importance of Fruit Trees in Climate Actions

After nearly four years of pandemic-induced inactivity, Way Kambas National Park (Taman Nasional Way Kambas) in Lampung Province has thrown open its gates once more, welcoming visitors starting December 20th, 2023. This exciting news is accompanied by a fresh approach to tourism, outlined in the Pengumuman Balai Taman Nasional Way Kambas (TNWK) Nomor PG.2106/T.11/TU/HMS/12/2023.

This new concept prioritizes harmony with nature, adhering to regulations while emphasizing sustainability, animal welfare, and community empowerment. It aims not only to preserve the park's rich biodiversity but also to create a more engaging and enriching experience for visitors. This includes interactive activities within the park and its surrounding buffer villages. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure a thriving park that benefits both nature and local communities.

Multi Purpose Tree Species as an Effective Carbon Sink

As a climate tech company, Jejakin recognizes the importance of protecting the buffer villages around the national park. We’re proud to collaborate with Gojek Indonesia to execute the GoGreener Tree Collective program in November 2022 and January 2023, planting around 20,000 fruit trees (jackfruit, petai, durian, jengkol) within the villages areas.

These multi purpose tree species (MPTS), or commonly called fruit trees, are proven to have the potential to act as a carbon sinks, and store their biomass and soil bigger than other species [1]. Fruit trees, being perennial plants, store and remobilize carbon in their perennial plant components, making them efficient sinks of atmospheric carbon [2]. In total, these 20,000 have the ability to absorb an estimated 2,222.2 tons of CO2e over their 8-year lifespan – that's equivalent to taking a car off the road for over 35 million kilometers!

Empowering the Community with Multi Purpose Tree Species

The carbon storage potential of fruit trees in terrestrial ecosystems, particularly in tropical landscapes, has been highlighted as an important aspect that should be considered in governance, development, and benefit-sharing discussions [3]. While their environmental benefits are undeniable, MPTS also hold significant potential for local communities. The fruit production provides valuable income sources, while the trees themselves can enrich and diversify agricultural landscapes.

This creates a win-win situation for both nature and people, as this program involves 40 farmers growing these trees as feed crops for Sumatran rhinoceroses at the sanctuary, addressing their vital nutritional needs. This initiative also empowers the farmers' wives through eco-printing workshops, equipping them with skills to create and sell sustainable products.

CarbonAtlas, a Powerful Tool to Measure Impact

To track the impact of our tree-planting efforts, we use our CarbonAtlas platform. This innovative tool, based on DMRV (Digital Measurement, Reporting, and Verification), empowers all stakeholders. Our Caretaker (planting partner) can collect data in the field using our additional mobile app Karlon; our Impact Manager can monitor the progress in real-time via CarbonAtlas’ Dashboard, and the contributing users can witness the tangible impact of their contributions that will be sent through email. This transparent approach showcases the power of technology in supporting climate action, both locally and globally.

To date, our GoGreener collaboration has surpassed one million active users, creating impact all around Indonesia. Interested in contributing to this program? Turn on the GoGreener feature on your Gojek account, and be the change you want to see!

About Jejakin

Jejakin is a climate tech company that focuses on creating solutions to mitigate climate change. Utilizing AI and IoT as the foundation of our technology, Jejakin aims to establish a circular economy through our platform, accelerating our clients' journey towards achieving net-zero emissions.

‍References:

[1] Wambede, M.N., Akello, G., Lugumira, J.S., Barasa, B., Amwonya, D. and Mulabbi, A., 2022. Carbon Sequestration of Fruit Trees under Contrasting Management Regimes. Indonesian Journal of Geography, 54(3).

[3] Sharma, S., Rana, V.S., Prasad, H., Lakra, J. and Sharma, U., 2021. Appraisal of carbon capture, storage, and utilization through fruit crops. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 9, p.700768.

[5] Wu, T., Wang, Y., Yu, C., Chiarawipa, R., Zhang, X., Han, Z. and Wu, L., 2012. Carbon sequestration by fruit trees-Chinese apple orchards as an example. PloS one, 7(6), p.e38883.