Balikpapan – PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM) was selected as one of the hosts for the national Simultaneous Tree Planting program organized by the Ministry of Forestry across Indonesia on Tuesday (01/14). The event was held at Meranti Tourist Site KM 15 Karang Joang, North Balikpapan District, Balikpapan City, East Kalimantan. PHM targeted the planting of 400 agroforestry plants across a 1-hectare area.

This tree-planting initiative was conducted simultaneously in over 100 locations across 37 provinces in Indonesia. The Balikpapan event was virtually connected to the main event led by Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, in East Nusa Tenggara. The simultaneous tree-planting program, initiated by the Ministry of Forestry, coincided with National One Million Trees Day, observed annually on January 10.

The event in Balikpapan was supported by the Special Task Force for Upstream Oil and Gas Business Activities/Satuan Kerja Khusus Pelaksana Kegiatan Usaha Hulu Minyak dan Gas Bumi (SKK Migas), PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI) as the parent company, and the Mahakam Berau Watershed Management Agency/Balai Pengelolaan Daerah Aliran Sungai (BPDAS). Attendees included government officials such as the Acting Regent of Penajam Paser Utara, who also serves as the Director of Soil and Water Conservation at the Ministry of Forestry, Dr. M. Zainal Arifin, S.Hut., M.Si., PHM General Manager Setyo Sapto Edi, PHI Senior Manager of Relations Handri Ramdhani, management representatives from SKK Migas for Kalimantan and Sulawesi, and leaders of the East Kalimantan Regional Leadership Coordination Forum/Forum Komunikasi Pimpinan Daerah (Forkompinda).

The saplings planted were local superior Multipurpose Tree Species (MPTS) varieties, including durian, jackfruit, mangosteen, longan, orange, lychee, avocado, and rambutan. MPTS are multifunctional trees that offer ecological and economic benefits and produce both timber and non-timber commodities.

In his remarks, Setyo Sapto Edi emphasized the company’s commitment to implementing programs that support environmental sustainability, aligning with PT Pertamina (Persero)’s policies on carbon emission reduction, energy efficiency, environmental conservation, energy transition, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. “To realize this commitment, we collaborate and synergize with all stakeholders, especially the Ministry of Forestry, local governments, and the Environmental Agency, from planning to implementing environmental management programs,” Setyo stated.

He added that PHM also engages in tree planting activities as part of watershed/Daerah Aliran Sungai (DAS) rehabilitation in response to the ministry’s Forest Area Utilization Approval/Persetujuan Penggunaan Kawasan Hutan (PPKH). “The watershed rehabilitation program covers approximately 345 hectares. This initiative also supports the local community’s economic growth, fostering independence and prosperity while ensuring forest sustainability and energy resilience,” Setyo explained.

The DAS rehabilitation is carried out under a self-management scheme in collaboration with Forest Farmer Groups/Kelompok Tani Hutan (KTH) and nurtured through the Social Forestry program by the Balikpapan Protected Forest Management Unit. Setyo hopes the DAS rehabilitation activities can provide added value to local KTHs, benefiting productive ventures like agroforestry, non-timber forest products, and environmental services such as tourism. He further emphasized the importance of maintaining strong synergy with local KTHs to ensure the program’s continuity.

The Director of Soil and Water Conservation at the Ministry of Forestry, Dr. M. Zainal Arifin, echoed this sentiment. “We highly expect contributions from PPKH holders to support watershed rehabilitation programs, ensuring annual planting targets are met as outlined in the approval decree,” Zainal said. He hoped that land rehabilitation efforts would contribute to national environmental recovery, supporting food, energy, and water resilience as mandated by Indonesia’s President.

Separately, Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, stated that tree planting is a strategic step to support Indonesia’s natural conservation. “This effort not only restores the ecological functions of land but also strengthens environmental resilience against climate change, erosion, and natural disasters,” he noted. He hoped such initiatives would promote balanced ecosystems and sustainable natural resources, ensuring future generations can enjoy a healthy and productive environment.

PT Pertamina Hulu Mahakam (PHM), a subsidiary of PT Pertamina Hulu Indonesia (PHI), oversees oil and gas upstream operations and businesses in the Mahakam Work Area in East Kalimantan, adhering to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. In collaboration with SKK Migas, PHM and other subsidiaries and affiliates of PHI consistently innovate and apply technology to deliver safe, efficient, reliable, compliant, and environmentally friendly energy to realize #EnergiKalimantanUntukIndonesia. For more information about PHI, visit https://phi.pertamina.com.