Commemorating Earth Day, UIN Jakarta Plants Hundreds of Matoa Trees on Campus

FIKES, UIN News Online — The leadership and academic community of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta carried out the planting of hundreds of Matoa trees across the university’s campus, marked by the symbolic planting of saplings at the Faculty of Health Sciences (FIKES) garden on Tuesday (April 22, 2025). The initiative is part of the One Million Tree Planting Movement launched by Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs in celebration of Earth Day, observed globally every April 22.

The tree-planting event was led directly by the Rector of UIN Jakarta, Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, M.A., Ph.D., accompanied by the Vice Rectors, Heads of Bureaus, Faculty Deans, the Director of the Graduate School, and other institutional and center leaders. Also present were lecturers, administrative staff, and students from various faculties.

In his speech, Rector Asep Jahar expressed his appreciation for the One Million Matoa Trees Planting Movement, describing it as a tangible manifestation of the Ministry’s eco-theology program that emphasizes environmental conservation as a vital message of Earth Day. The commemoration, he stated, should be reflected through concrete actions such as the planting of one million Matoa trees by institutions under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, including UIN Jakarta.

At UIN Jakarta, the Rector emphasized, this activity represents a concrete contribution of the university community toward environmental preservation. “Through this event, we hope to inspire all members of the UIN Jakarta academic community to be more aware of environmental issues and to help transform our campus into a greener, healthier, and more sustainable space,” he stated.

Furthermore, the One Million Tree Planting initiative aligns with UIN Jakarta’s Green Campus program. The Rector explained that the university has already enacted several policies to support this initiative, including full support for the Matoa tree planting campaign.

“This event is in line with UIN Jakarta’s ongoing development as a Green Campus. Therefore, similar programs will continue to be promoted by the Green Campus Center. This is just the beginning,” he added.

Echoing this sentiment, Vice Rector for Cooperation, Din Wahid, M.A., Ph.D., stated that the activity reflects Islamic values, which emphasize environmental stewardship. “Islam teaches that caring for the Earth is a form of worship. Planting trees may seem simple, but it can have a profound impact on the future,” he said.

Head of the UIN Jakarta Green Campus Development Center, Prof. Dr. Hendrawati, M.Si., also affirmed that this initiative is a strategic step toward realizing an eco-friendly and sustainable campus. “We will continue our efforts to cultivate a lush and sustainable campus environment as a contribution to climate change mitigation,” she explained.

In addition to expressions of appreciation and institutional commitment, the event included the actual planting of Matoa tree saplings. The planting began with Rector Asep Jahar, followed by Vice Rectors, Heads of Bureaus, and Deans, each taking turns planting saplings in pre-dug holes.

Photo Documentation:

Aida Adha Siregar, Lisnawati, Fauziah M., Noeni Indah Sulistiyani | Photos: Muhammad Yahya