A total of 700 participants gathered at Candi Golf Semarang on a Sunday morning before setting off on a 5-kilometer hike through the surrounding hills. The two-hour journey gave participants the chance to enjoy the sunrise while exploring the natural landscape around Semarang offering recreation both for body and mind. 

 

“Many people are experiencing increased stress lately. Large trees and natural surroundings can be one way to help relieve stress. Nature offers a free and accessible space that we can enjoy to relax and reduce stress, and this hiking event provides exactly that,” Yoel, representative of Candi Golf Semarang said. 

 

As part of the event’s commitment to environmental conservation, participants collectively adopted 200 trees, which planted in Boyolali, Central Java. To highlight the importance of proper tree planting, the event also featured a tree-planting demonstration, showing participants how to plant trees correctly. 

 

For Fika Atina, a participant from Pekalongan – a neighbourhood city of Semarang, the event was an opportunity to care for both personal and environmental well-being. “Since we are already out hiking, it’s not just about our own health. By planting trees, we are also helping nurture the health of the natural environment around us,” she said. 

 

Agnes, a participant from Semarang, shared a similar perspective that the event carried a meaningful environmental message. “Indirectly, by joining this hiking activity, I can also contribute to planting trees for reforestation, and that’s truly meaningful to me,” she said.  

The adopted trees are dedicated to addressing critical environmental challenges in Boyolali Regency, Central Java, an area highly vulnerable to drought and water scarcity – two of the most pressing challenges faced by local farmers. 

 

Human activities have left many areas degraded and without sufficient tree cover, increasing the risks of drought, soil erosion, and water shortages. These challenges are further intensified by prolonged dry seasons and increasingly unpredictable rainfall. 

With the trees adoption that implemented an agroforestry approach, the tree-planting help enrich soil, prevent erosion, and sustain water, while integrating timber, fruit, and crops. Not only help environment to thrive, those trees planted also offer farmers additional income beyond seasonal crops like cassava and taro, but also from valuable fruit trees like petai, durian, and avocado. 

 

“Tree planting and greening are very important for us and for society as a whole, especially in the long term. Trees provide oxygen, help maintain groundwater, and offer many other benefits, including supporting local livelihoods and generating additional income. I hope the trees we have adopted will continue to grow and provide lasting benefits for both communities and the environment,” Yoel said.