Pertamina-UGM Forest Inauguration, Potentially Reducing More Than 170 Thousand Tons of CO2 and Empowering Communities

September 19, 2022 - By 2065, it is predicted that nearly two-thirds of the earth's ozone layer will disappear. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation causes skin cancer, DNA mutations, and sunburn in a span of five minutes. It is a bleak picture of the future that NASA scientists, Johns Hopkins University, and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency predict if the ozone layer continues to deplete and damage.

Commemorating International Ozone Day, Pertamina through the Pertamina Foundation cooperates with Gadjah Mada University (UGM) to inaugurate the Pertamina-UGM Forest at the Getas Field Campus, Blora, Central Java, Sunday (18/09). Pertamina UGM Forest reforestation will reduce CO2 that destroys ozone and potentially cut greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 170,544 tons of CO2 over ten years.

The inauguration was carried out by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Bambang Hendroyono; the Chancellor of the Gadjah Mada University, Prof. Ova Emilia; and Human Resources Director of PT Pertamina (Persero), Erry Sugiharto. This event was also witnessed by the Head of the Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency, Hartono Prawiraatmadja; Blora Regent, H. Arief Rohman; Ngawi Regent, H. Ony Anwar Harsono; VP CSR & SMEPP Management of PT Pertamina (Persero), Fajriyah Usman; President Director of Perhutani, Wahyu Kuncoro; and the Dean of the Faculty of Forestry UGM, Sigit Sunarta.

“The Pertamina-UGM forest is a commitment and collaborative action to control climate change in Indonesia. The Ministry of Environment and Forestry is very supportive and hopes in the future many stakeholders, especially SOEs, can realize real actions like this with the Government and Regional Governments," said Bambang Hendroyono.

Pertamina-UGM Forest through the Getas-Ngandong Special Purpose Forest Area (KHDTK) management has a total ​​10,867 ha area. Some are located in Blora, Central Java, covering an ​​8,613 ha area, and Ngawi, East Java, with a ​​2,254 ha area.

In this project, an agroforestry planting scheme will be carried out, increasing the forest density by about a third. As well as the organized productive crop planting management, reaching a ​​3,000 ha area through gradual reforestation.

“Pertamina-UGM Forest is one of Pertamina's Forest programs, which currently has 267 programs with more than four million trees planting. It can reduce carbon emissions by 120 thousand tons of Co2eq/year and empower more than 4.7 thousand people in the surrounding community. We hope this program can continue to be sustainable, to protect the earth and support the net zero emission goal,” explained Erry.

In addition to carbon sequestration, the Pertamina-UGM Forest agroforestry scheme also supports Pertamina's Desa Energi Berdikari by fulfilling green refineries' biofuel needs in Cilacap. Waste from plants can also be utilized as animal feed and compost. This program empowers 8,000 Pesanggem (land cultivators) from various villages in the Ngandong-Getas KHDTK area.

Moreover, the Pertamina-UGM Forest presence is an effort to conserve Pertamina's Biodiversity for endemic flora and fauna. In the future, Pertamina-UGM Forest will be able to support the Tri Dharma of Higher Education by becoming a research laboratory for the general public, academics, and researchers.

“For Gadjah Mada University, this is a collaboration and contribution from the university to the related stakeholders. Thus, UGM's task is to facilitate and at the same time utilize the Pertamina-UGM Forest as a learning, research, and innovation development object. Indeed, with the agroforestry scheme as carbon sequestration and as energy producers such as biofuels, the results will be returned to the community," explained Ova.

After the Pertamina-UGM Forest inauguration, the Blue Carbon Initiative still has three other projects. Namely, the Bontang-Mahakam project, the Lembata Project, and the Cenderawasih Kwatisore Project.

“The UGM Pertamina Forest inauguration is the opening of four nature-based solution projects to reduce deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions rate, as well as utilize new renewable energy for local communities. Thank you to KLHK, Faculty of Forestry UGM, Regents of Blora and Ngawi, and CSR of PT Pertamina (Persero), who fully support us in creating, moving, and sharing for the community welfare and the earth's longevity," stated Agus Mashud.**