KUNDUR -- PT Timah Tbk continues its commitment to environmental conservation, including mangrove planting in its operational areas, such as in the Riau Archipelago Province.
As known, mangroves in Indonesia play a crucial role in the national and global climate change mitigation strategy. PT Timah Tbk's mangrove planting program also aligns with the government's efforts towards achieving net zero Emission (NZE) by 2060.
Through its Kundur Production Unit in 2023, PT Timah Tbk has planted a total of 12,000 mangroves in the Riau Archipelago Province to preserve the coastal ecosystem in the West Kundur area, Karimun Regency.
As a member of the Mining Industry Holding MIND ID, PT Timah Tbk collaborates with the community and environmental enthusiasts in mangrove planting. Some time ago, on World Environment Day 2023, PT Timah Tbk, along with the Environmental Care Community of PT Timah Tbk, planted 1000 mangrove seedlings on Ambat Jaya Beach, Pangke Village.
The mangrove planting at Ambat Jaya Beach is expected to improve the mangrove forest in this area so that it can thrive and reduce the increasing impact of erosion every year.
PT Timah Tbk's Kundur Production Unit also planted 1000 mangroves with the community and fishermen of Sawang Laut Village at Batu Tuan Beach. Besides involving the community, PT Timah also invited elementary school students from SD Negeri 009 Sawang Laut as an educational step to care for mangrove areas for students.
One of the teachers from SD Negeri 009 Sawang Laut, Supriyanto, expressed great joy because their students were involved in mangrove planting activities, allowing them to better understand the benefits of mangroves.
Similarly, one of the fishermen, Aizar, involved in mangrove planting, stated that the mangrove planting could reduce the impact of erosion on the shoreline, especially at Batu Tuan Beach.
"Hopefully, in the future, the seedlings we planted can grow and develop well, thus providing positive benefits for the community and the surrounding environment," he said.
Meanwhile, the Sub-district Head of West Kundur, Yusufian, expressed tremendous appreciation to PT Timah Tbk for its consistency in environmental management and mangrove planting.
"On behalf of the West Kundur community, we are very grateful to PT Timah Tbk for consistently managing the environment through various activities such as mangrove planting," he said.
He hoped that in the future, West Kundur would have a well-preserved mangrove forest that could benefit the surrounding community. Moreover, mangroves are essential for the ecosystem of small fish, crabs, and shrimp.
"Thus, if the mangrove forest can be well-preserved, it will undoubtedly help improve the economic livelihoods of the fishing community," he said.
Furthermore, mangrove forests can be used for education and tourism, providing local SME products and contributing to economic development.
"Mangroves also serve as mud filters, making the water around the mangroves clearer, and there are still many more benefits of mangroves for human life," he concluded. (*)
