Tangkahen, Pulang Pisau Regency – For many families in Tangkahen Lama, Tangkahen Baru, and Pandawei villages, a single seedling is more than just a tree. It represents hope for greater food security, better livelihoods, and a lasting legacy for future generations.
That hope was brought to the communities through The Heartland Project, which distributed 9,000 fruit and multipurpose tree seedlings to three congregations of the Evangelical Church of Kalimantan (Gereja Kalimantan Evangelis/GKE): GKE Tangkahen Lama, GKE Tangkahen Baru, and GKE Pandawei.
Through these churches, the seedlings will be distributed to congregation members and local families to be planted on their own land. The churches serve not only as places of worship but also as trusted community institutions that bring people together, strengthen solidarity, and inspire collective action toward a more resilient future.
"Planting trees is not only about protecting the environment, but also about ensuring that our children have reliable sources of food and income in the future," said one community member during the seedling handover.
The 9,000 seedlings include 1,500 durian, 1,500 cempedak, 3,000 jengkol (dogfruit), and 3,000 petai (stink bean) seedlings. Each church received 3,000 seedlings, which will be distributed to households across their respective communities as part of a community-based agroforestry initiative.
The initiative reflects the belief that successful landscape restoration should not be measured solely by the number of trees planted, but by the positive and lasting benefits experienced by local communities. As these trees grow, they will contribute not only to healthier landscapes but also to stronger household food security, improved livelihoods, and renewed hope for the people of Tangkahen Lama, Tangkahen Baru, and Pandawei.