Heroes2 Visits Masarang Foundation

Day 1: Tomohon reforestation site visit

After meeting Dr. Willie Smits at the ESF Conference in June, Heroes2 CEO and Founder, Mr. Raymond Yap, took a trip to Indonesia to visit the operations base of the Masarang Foundation.

The first day was spent exploring Willie’s reforestation site in Tomohon which has flourished into a forest from grasslands. The architecture of the forest is strategically planned to include a “fire gap” (a gap where no tree is planted) which prevents fires from destroying the entire woodland.

Sugar palms are a key feature of the reforestation site – they can only grow in a diverse forest and provide a niche for other animal and plant species. Amongst the sugar palms also stand Tjempaka and Wasian trees which can yield timber for reconstruction work after 20 years of planting.

The sugar palm is a truly amazing plant which can provide many different types of products: The sap can be made into delicious palm sugar (Raymond got to taste a sugar block freshly made by the locals!) and strong rum, while the fibre from the tree can be turned into ropes, just to name a few.

The significance of the sugar palm is truly enormous as it means green forests, green energy and a green source of income for the local people!