Green Harmony: 6 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day Surrounded by Greenery

 

Forest

Every day presents an opportunity to support our environment, but Earth Day calls for something special. Observed annually on April 22nd, Earth Day signifies global unity for environmental protection. April also isn’t just about Earth Day; it’s Earth Month, dedicated to promoting environmental preservation. 

While this moment often focuses on raising awareness about safeguarding our surrounding environment, we believe celebrating Earth Day is more than that—it’s about taking action. It’s also not just about doing eco-friendly activities during the celebration; it’s about committing to sustainable habits every day. 

Below, we present ideas to celebrate Earth Day in harmony with trees and greenery, honoring their essential role as the foundation of life on Earth. These suggestions can be seamlessly integrated into your daily habits and lifestyle, spanning from activities at home to outdoor endeavors. Let’s take steps to protect them!

Embracing green hobbies at home 

Contributing to a heathier planet can be done from home by embracing green hobbies. It offers a profound connection to the Earth while enjoying the therapeutic benefits of nature in the comfort of your own space. You can dig into the soil, start gardening, and cultivating vegetables, fruits, or ornamental plants and flowers.  

You can also get creative with eco-friendly art projects using materials from nature like fallen leaves, twigs, and flowers. Create unique décor pieces such as wall hangings and room accents while respecting and preserving the environment.

Green Harmony: 6 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day
Photo: Pexel

Engaging sport within nature

Discovering serenity in nature while nurturing your health is one of the best activities to partake in during Earth Month. Immerse yourself in outdoor activities like mountain hiking, forest jogging, or outdoor yoga to enhance both your physical and mental well-being, while deepening your connection to nature. It can also be easily integrated into our daily lifestyle. 

Commit to growing trees, not just planting

Planting trees may be simple but growing them requires commitment. Committing to plant and nurture trees until they mature is crucial for better supporting our Earth. As we know, mature trees offer immense benefits, from carbon capture to supporting biodiversity and stimulating local economies. Choose for growing native trees to enhance biodiversity habitats.  

If space is limited, consider donating trees with us. We’ll not only plant them on your behalf, but also ensure their thriving growth, enriching the environment. We also partner with local tree growers from the community, bolstering local economies with every tree planted. Whether you plant and grow trees solo or join our initiative, it’s a meaningful way to support our Earth better.

Trees4Trees’ Planting Season 2023-2024

Be a responsible consumer to environment 

When you’re buying nature-based items, such as forest products like honey, wooden furniture, or paper, prioritize products that are responsibly sourced and don’t harm forests or the environment. Look for labels that verify this.  

We are excited to share that products with the Trees4Trees hang tag indicate responsible manufacturing practices, as Trees4Trees plants a tree for each item produced. If you’re a business owner needing environmentally friendly verification for your products, consider teaming up with us to plant trees. Contact us for more information! Contact us to learn more!

Trees4Trees

Leisure time surrounded by greenery 

Spend leisure time in nature for proven physical and mental health benefits. Whether strolling through a nearby park or forest bathing, it’s a serene way to celebrate Earth Day, reducing stress, anxiety, and boosting your immune system. Find a forested area to immerse yourself in the natural setting, surrounded by trees, and listen to the soothing sounds of nature.

Volunteering and applying tree-planting practices

Help maintain forest density by participating in tree-planting events. Thicker forest cover means more carbon sequestration. Volunteer to learn proper tree-planting techniques and contribute to reforestation efforts. Afterwards, you can apply the techniques and knowledge to plant trees in your surroundings to sustain the practice sustainably. 

If you’re interested in hosting a tree-planting event with your community, you can also organize one with us to green our Earth. Contact us for more information! 

Green Harmony: Plant a trees

UPS: Delivering Positive Environment Impacts

Search for Setu District on Google Earth, and the satellite throws up a lonely patch of green, squeezed between Bogor and the two major industrial centers of Jakarta and Bekasi.  

In recent years, the forested fringes of Setu have been giving way to new residential areas, shopping centers, buildings, and other infrastructure projects. The roads are increasingly clogged with cars, chugging to work in a cloud of petrol fumes.  

But solutions are on the way. Working in collaboration with Trees4Trees and the International Tree Foundation, the United Parcel Service (UPS) recently began a tree-planting program in Setu District that is bringing a breath of fresh air back to this important buffer zone. 

UPS contributions to the global sustainability movement 

On March 9, 2024, UPS set up camp at Hobbit Hills Eco Village for their second Indonesian tree planting project in the past year. According to Maya Sarininta, General Manager of UPS Indonesia, the latest initiative reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to environmental improvement.  

Maya Sarininta, General Manager of UPS Indonesia, leads the way in the company’s recent tree-planting activities

“This tree-planting event is part of our global sustainability program, which aims to plant 50 million trees worldwide by 2030,” said Maya during the event at Hobbit Hills. “Last year, we planted 1,200 mangroves in the coastal area of Jakarta. This year, we will continue the tree-planting program by planting various trees in terrestrial areas to enhance Jakarta’s buffer zone. We hope to plant more trees next year with the participation of our staff, working towards our global goal,” she added. 

The many benefits of an urban forest 

UPS’ program successfully planted 600 trees, comprising eight different species that will eventually grow into a new urban forest. These include local hardwood trees such as jabon, sengon, suren, and trembesi, which provide shade and can even help reduce temperatures in urban areas.  

Multi-purpose trees like durian, petai, and clove were also planted at the site. These trees support the environment by sucking up carbon dioxide, while also helping keep a lid on pollution and heat. Even better, their fruits can provide local communities with sustainable new livelihoods. 

Pandu Budi Wahono is Trees4Trees Program Manager. Speaking at the event, he noted that all partners involved in the project were excited about the long-term changes a bit of green could bring to the neighborhood. “We hope all the trees planted today on this farm will be properly nurtured and beneficial to the next generation, particularly in this area,” said Pandu. 

The GM of UPS Indonesia (left) receives a tree-planting certificate from Trees4Trees Program Manager (right)

It takes a village: Working together for a greener future 

The tree-planting event brought together staff from UPS and Hobbit Hills Eco Village, along with members of the local community as volunteers. “We involved UPS staff from all departments and invited families, including children, who were eager to join,” explained Mohammed Akbar, Chief of Community UPS Indonesia who was the tree-planting event coordinator. 

“I planted over ten trees today,” giggled Misha, one of several children who joined in. “It was exciting to know the correct ways to plant trees, and of course, to get my hands dirty without any complaints from my mom! I hope I can come back here to pick their fruits,” she added.  

UPS staff and their families learn how to plant trees using a sustainable, organic approach.

Misha’s Mom, Ira, is a member of UPS Indonesia staff. She believes kids should be engaged in environmental education from a young age. “I brought my two children here to teach them about nature, how trees give us life and essential elements like oxygen. It’s crucial for the next generation to learn and contribute to nature preservation,” said Ira. 

A UPS staff member planted trees with her children. Involving children in the tree-planting event as volunteers was part of the early education to introduce the importance of protecting nature and planting trees to the next generation

The latest tree planting program from UPS is a small part of their global sustainability goals. “UPS supports any environmental movement that makes a positive impact on the environment, especially efforts to reduce carbon emissions and combat global warming for a better future,” noted Farah, the UPS Co Chief of Community who was the assistance coordinator of the tree-planting event at the end of a long day’s planting on Hobbit Hill Eco Village. 

From Setu District to the rest of West Java, UPS Indonesia is working to positively impact communities and the environment as part of their global sustainability commitments. Through fruitful partnerships with Trees4Trees and the International Tree Foundation, UPS is determined to deliver on its green initiative.