JAKARTA - COUPLES wanting to get married or divorced now have to spare a bit of love for the Earth under a compulsory tree-planting campaign in one Indonesian district, a report said.

People planning to wed in Sragen district, on the main Indonesian island of Java, must contribute to the planting of five tree seedlings, district head Untung Wiyono was reported as saying by the state-run Antara news agency on Monday.

They are required to hand over their own seedlings, or 25,000 rupiah (S$4) to buy some, to whoever officiates at their marriage.

The seeds, of hardwood trees such as teak or mahogany, are then handed to the government to be planted, Mr Wiyono reportedly said.

Couples who are looking to divorce must donate 25 tree seedlings or hand over 40,000 rupiah, he added.

'The money will then be used to buy tree seedlings which would have to be planted in the area where the couple live,' Mr Wiyono said according to Antara, noting that the programme was aimed at helping combat global warming. -- AFP