The city administration of Balikpapan in East Kalimantan has issued a new rule which forces couples to plant a tree before they can receive a marriage license.
“We have made it mandatory for those wanting to get married to submit one tree seedling or else we will not give them a recommendation letter,” said city spokesperson Samauna Rizal as quoted by Antara newswire on Saturday.
In Balikpapan, a formal recommendation letter from a local district office is required to receive a marriage license from the Religious Affairs Court. So to get married, couples must plant a tree.
The new regulation hopes to inspire the citizens to think about their natural environment. East Kalimantan has seen massive deforestation due to illegal logging and mining activities. Such measures are also in place in Sabang, Aceh, and Bandung, West Java.
“Consider it as a wedding gift for the government,” Rizal said.
The requirement is also planned to extend to birth certificates and other city-enforced legal matters.
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