Planting trees an obsession for Peter

By ELIAS LARI
PETER Arim Mek loves to plant trees. So far, the 60-year-old from Wara Ane village in Sigiri, North-Waghi electorate of Jiwaka claims to have planted more than one million, although he admits he has no record to prove that.
But today, leaders and government authorities are acknowledging what he has been doing in the past three decades or so and are praising his efforts. In fact, they are using him as a role model in the conservation of the environment and addressing the global problem of climate change.
He is the son of Jiwaka’s well-known leader Mek Korup. Peter attended the Christian Leadership Training College in Banz, Jiwaka where he learned a lot about agriculture.
Peter began his tree-planting venture in 1984, mostly gum and pine, along river banks, hills and plains.
He had heard about climate change and global warming and how all countries around the world were being affected by them. He decided to do his part towards environment conservation by planting trees.
As trees grew making the environment green, lush and beautiful, Peter set up a nursery and supplied seedlings to people willing to plant trees.
He has around 30,000 seedlings which he supplies to people in Eastern Highlands, Chimbu, Jiwaka, Western Highlands, Enga and Southern Highlands.
Last week, Jiwaka Governor Dr William Tongamp visited him and gave him a sawmill and chainsaw costing more than K70, 000.
Tongamp visited Peter with members of his Kulaka Akaka clan. Forestry Minister Solan Mirism will visit Peter next month after being told of what he has been doing.
From the trees he planted, some have been given to churches and schools to build homes and classrooms.
“Because there are no markets to sell, I have no plans on what to do with these trees. So I donated them to churches and schools.”
Tongamp now wants the people of Jiwaka to plant more trees saying it will benefit the province. He estimates the value of one million trees to be around K5 billion.
“We will make this project a money-making one in Jiwaka. I will make sure that in 20 to 30 years’ time, people will be benefitting from trees. I believe that these (one million) trees are worth K5 billion. If Peter Mek continues, he will make a lot of money. We will make tree-planting one of the biggest sources of income for the province.”
Tongamp also plans to introduce the tree-planting project in schools.
“If students in elementary and primary schools are encouraged to start planting now, then in 20 to 30 years’ time, Jiwaka can see an increase in cash flow and growing of the local economy as well. Jiwaka needs people who can work hard like Peter Mek. Nothing good will come to a lazy person.”
Peter believes that trees are important to the environment and the people.
“You need trees to build houses and as a source of income. I’m suppling (seedlings) to people because I want them to plant more trees. Today, I have realised the importance of planting trees and will be planting more.”