One Million Trees Global Movement Day: Pertamina Preserves Over 6 Million Trees in the Pertamina Forest Program

Jakarta, January 10, 2024 – To commemorate One Million Trees Global Movement Day, celebrated every January 10th, PT Pertamina (Persero) strengthens its commitment to environmental conservation. Currently, there are 104 planting programs across all Pertamina Group operational areas throughout Indonesia under the Pertamina Forest program, covering 629 hectares of mangrove and terrestrial tree planting.

Vice President of Corporate Communication of Pertamina, Fadjar Djoko Santoso, stated that nationally, the Pertamina Group has planted over six million trees, including mangroves and other terrestrial trees. This initiative contributes to the decarbonization of more than 120 thousand tons of CO2eq per year in carbon emissions absorption.

"Pertamina is earnest about environmental preservation, including tree planting, which plays a significant role as a carbon absorber and storage," Fadjar explained.

The tree-planting movement, part of the Pertamina Forest's Social and Environmental Responsibility Program (TJSL), reflects the company's commitment to implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) aspects and contributes to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially goal (13) on taking action to combat climate change and goal (15) on protecting, restoring, and promoting terrestrial ecosystems.

One of these nature conservation activities was initiated by PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Sulawesi Region through the Aviation Fuel Terminal Hasanuddin Group, which conducted a planting event of 1,000 tree saplings at Kebun Raya Pucak, Tompobulu District, Maros Regency. The event, themed "Planting One Tree Today, Reaping a Million Benefits in the Future," also collaborated with the Environmental and Forestry Agency of South Sulawesi Province.

Fahrougi Andriani Sumampouw, Area Manager of Communication Relations & CSR of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Sulawesi Region, mentioned that tree planting serves as climate change mitigation and provides economic benefits to the surrounding communities.

"The high concentration of carbon emissions in the atmosphere needs to be reduced by the natural ability of trees. Tree planting is one of the best options to mitigate climate crisis’ impact, providing an effective solution by absorbing carbon emissions in a relatively short duration and significantly impacting the environment and the local economy. Overall, the Pertamina Forest program has provided economic benefits to 4,783 beneficiaries with an income of around IDR 1.8 billion per year for the Group," he said.

The event was attended by the Acting Regional Manager of Corporate Operation & Services of PT Pertamina Patra Niaga Sulawesi Region, Putu Diatmika, the Head of the Environmental and Forestry Agency of South Sulawesi Province, Andi Hasbi, the Assistant II for Economy and Development of Maros Regency, Abdul Azis, and officials from the Environmental and Forestry Agency of Maros Regency.

Pertamina also invites the entire community to participate in this tree-planting initiative, involving students and scholars from institutions such as 13 Maros Public High School, FDC Unhas, Poltek KP Bone, UMI Makassar, Cokroaminoto, Veterinary Medicine, Menwa, and Poltekes Unhas.

In this activity, aimed at preserving rare and endangered plant species, 12 plant saplings from the Kebun Raya Pucak collection were planted, including Lunasi sp, Canarium sp, Nauclea sp, Ixora sp, Ficus sp, Alstonia sp, Melicope sp, Artocarpus sp, Dysoxyllum sp, Syzygium sp, Calophylum inophyllum, Bauhinia sp, and other endemic and directed plants, totaling 1,000 trees.

At the same event, the Head of the Environmental and Forestry Agency of South Sulawesi Province, Andi Hasbi, expressed hope that today's tree-planting activity (10/1) could serve as a momentum to encourage all elements of society to preserve biodiversity, especially in South Sulawesi Province.

"The One Million Trees Movement Day continues to be commemorated to this day because it has brought many positive benefits to environmental sustainability and raised awareness among the public about nature conservation’s importance. Various benefits include reducing the impact of global warming, producing oxygen, and mitigating climate change," he explained.

Furthermore, Andi Hasbi stated that the tree-planting activity at Kebun Raya Pucak would enhance the functions of the botanical garden itself, serving as a place for research, learning, and potentially developing into an eco-educational site.

Pertamina, as a leading company in the energy transition, is committed to supporting the Net Zero Emission 2060 target by continuously promoting programs that directly impact the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) achievement. All these efforts align with Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) implementation across all Pertamina's business lines and operations.**