PT Trubaindo Coal Mining (TCM), a subsidiary of PT Indo Tambangraya Megah Tbk. (ITM), handed over 3,644.61 ha of rehabilitated Watershed (DAS) land to the Director General of Watershed Management and Forest Rehabilitation, Ministry of Forestry and Environment (KLHK). The handover of the DAS land reaffirms ITM Group's commitment to environmental preservation and sustainable development.
Like killing two birds with one stone, tree planting for watershed rehabilitation generated many positive impacts for the Company, communities, and the environment. Not only fulfilling obligations as the holder of a Borrow-to-Use Forest Area Permit (IPPKH), but watershed rehabilitation also means restoring and enhancing the ecological functions of forests and watersheds, as well as creating social-economic opportunities for the community.
“Community involvement in the watershed rehabilitation program starts from the beginning, which means they benefit a lot from this activity. Communities are educated about how to plant and the importance of caring for trees, as well as other benefits that they can enjoy in the future. Then, in the phase of planting and tree monitoring, the communities are also involved with a decent wage," said Pak Deddy Sugiharto, Director of TCM, at the handover of the DAS land ceremony in Jakarta, 28 February 2023.
Of the total area of watershed rehabilitation land handed over by TCM, 1,931 ha of land is situated in the protected forest of Buring Ngayok, Kutai Kertanegara. Meanwhile, another 1,713.61 ha is in Bukit Soeharto Research and Education Forest area, Kutai Kartanegara, which is managed by Mulawarman University. The ITM Group's support for improving the quality of research at Mulawarman University is appreciated by Dr. Ir. Sukartiningsih, M.Sc., Deputy Chancellor for HR, General Affairs and Finance, Mulawarman University.
“The forest on Soeharto Hill has produced many reliable researchers and research products, including research on future energy. Therefore, on behalf of Mulawarman University, I would like to thank ITM and TCM for the support provided, helping us to rehabilitate critical and degraded parts of the forest," said Dr. Ir. Sukartiningsih, M.Sc.
The successful rehabilitation of Mulawarman University’s research forest just adds to the pride of ITM and TCM following the Companies’ contribution to the quality of Indonesian higher education. "The added values created from a well-done watershed rehabilitation is a manifestation of ITM's spirit to continue to excel and grow along with the Company's transformation to be greener and smarter," said Pak Deddy.***
