Maya Ubud Plant-a-Tree Campaign

(11/20/2010)

Maya Ubud Resort & Spa's tree planting program has been re-launched and renamed as the Maya Ubud Plant-a-Tree Campaign.

The Maya Ubud Plant-a-Tree Campaign is in partnership with Friends of National Parks Foundation (FNPF) - a local non-profit organization.

FNPF allocates one hectare for use by Maya Ubud of a total 100-hectares set aside to restore forest cover on Nusa Penida island. The FNPF has as its goal increasing the current forested coverage of 5% at Nusa Penida to a more sustainable 30%.

First formed in June 2009, the collaboration between FNPF and Maya Ubud Resort & Spa mobilized donations made by the Resort's guest to the tree planting program.

A US$20 donation to the Maya Ubud Plant-a-Tree Campaign covers the cost of growing four saplings in the FNPF nursery, re-planting on the island and 3 years of care and supervision after which the trees are deemed self-sufficient. A plaque listing all Maya Ubud guest donors is also installed on Nusa Penida with donors receiving the FNPF Annual Newsletter updating the progress of their reforestation project.

In the initial tree planting program, guests were invited to choose their preferred tree from among cacao, mango, rambutan, mangosteen, rose-apple, and other species. Each tree was planted with an acrylic tag stating the guest's name and date of planting. Three years on, the 3 hectare plot of land on the riverside garden in Ubud is nearly full with 131 trees sharing the areas with endemic flora.

The next phase of the program will see the Resort's guests help create a green forest on Nusa Penida island.