PRESIDENT PRESENTS 'KALPATARU' AWARDS 2008 TO ENVIRONMENTAL 'HEROES'

Jakarta, June 5 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the State Palace here on Thursday presented 'Kalpataru' (Tree of Life) awards to nine people and three NGOs considered to have made outstanding contributions to environmental preservation in the country on the occasion of National Environment Day.

The Kalpataru award recipients were divided into four categories, namely pioneers of the environment, devotees of the environment, saviors of the environment and cultivators of the environment.

In the pioneers category, the recipients were Cukup Rudiyanto from Indramayu (West Java Province), Sriyatun from Surabaya (East Java Province), Abu Wenna from Wajo (South Sulawesi Province), Thresia Mia Tobi from Flores (East Nusa Tenggara Province), and Abbas H Usman from Indragiri Hilir (Riau Province).

In the savior category, the award recipients were Pekraman Buahan village, Bangli (Bali Province), Argo Mulyo farmers' group from Madiun (East Java), and Bahtera Melayu, an NGO from Bengkalis, Riau Province.

Awards in the devotee category were given to Jadjit Bustami from Bondowoso, East Java Province, Lalu Selamat from Dompu, East Nusa Tenggara, and Muthalib Ahmad from Banda Aceh, Nangroe Aceh Darussalam Province.

Awards in the cultivator category went to Angerius Takalapeta from Alor, East Nusa Tenggara.

The president also presented Adipura Awards to a number of cities considered to have performed well in maintaining public cleanliness.

In the metropolitan category, the Adipura awards were presented to Palembang (South Sumatra), South Jakarta, West Jakarta, Surabaya (East Java), North Jakarta and Central Jakarta.

In the the big-city category, the awards were given to Pekanbaru (Riau Province), Padang (West Sumatra Province) and Batam (Riau Islands Province).

The Adipura awards also went to 28 medium-sized cities and 57 small towns.

On the occasion, Yudhoyono was accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono.