Photo : BCA employee is showing pictures of local animals and plants to Selil people in Ulilin District, Merauke
MERAUKE – Papua has some of the most biodiverse forests in the world, with 20,000 plant species, 602 bird varieties, 125 mammal groups, and 223 kinds of reptiles included in its grounds. Their appeal comes from being home to multiple endemic flora and fauna.
Yet, many of the locals remain unaware of the importance of biodiversity protection, and end up keeping alive activities that threaten the lives of protected wildlife.
PT Berkat Cipta Abadi (BCA) made sure these creatures were safe through its campaign, “Protect the Forest for a Better Future”, in Selil (Sub)village, Ulilin District, Merauke on Tuesday (9/12). This campaign is part of BCA’s Corporate Social Contribution programs and a way to meet Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) standards — which aims to establish environmental conservation standards for the palm oil industry as outlined in Law 5/1990. (The law governs conservation efforts for “living natural resources and their ecosystems”.)
On that day, both adult and younger residents of the (sub)village watched with interest as Raja Surya Pangestu Aritonang, BCA’s sustainability assistant manager, introduced the concept of maintaining high conservation value (HCV) areas.
Locals got to know more about the animals and plants exclusive to South Papua through pictures and photos. In his explanation, Aritonang drove home the significance of keeping the forests safe from destruction, as the endemic population shrinks more and more.
“We hope what we’re doing today can motivate local communities to start preservation efforts, so current and future generations can reap the fruits,” he said.
Photo : Locals are taught environmental preservation through pictures
Among the audience was Florentinus Kenot, who admitted there’s a need to work with multiple parties to protect nature. He expressed gratitude for the campaign, which he considered useful for the community, the children, and the biodiversity of the area.
PT Berkat Cipta Abadi is a palm oil plantation company under Tunas Sawa Erma (TSE) Group that commits to practicing sustainable palm oil governance and puts out innovations to prioritize its environmental and social responsibilities. (PR)
