Jakarta– PT Pertamina Hulu East Kalimantan (PHKT) signed a Cooperation Agreement (PKS) with the Kutai Kartanegara (Kukar) Regency Government and the Trigona Zwageri BRJ Forest Farmers Group in support of biodiversity conservation efforts in the Kukar region, East Kalimantan (26/09/2023).

Zona 10 General Manager Avep Disasmita said that this PKS includes land reforestation activities, construction of environmental education tourism facilities, and empowerment of local communities.

"This PKS is part of program implementation community development or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of companies to support the achievement of sustainable development goals or Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially goal 15, namely protecting, restoring and increasing the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, managing forests sustainably, stopping desertification, restoring land degradation, as well as stopping biodiversity loss," explained Avep.

According to Avep, this synergy plan in preserving biodiversity started in June 2023 when PHKT and the Kukar Regency Government through the Environment and Forestry Service (DLHK) inspected several locations designated as locations for this program.

During this arrival activity, Kukar Regent Edi Damansyah expressed his hopes for cooperation between PHKT, the government, and farmer groups. "This PKS must be able to encourage the progress of farmer groups," he said.

Edi added that the Kukar Regency Government has facilitated many farmer groups throughout the Kukar area to collaborate with other parties, such as companies.

"I am confident and optimistic that this PKS will run because there is good planning and schedule so that each party can see its role clearly," he concluded.

One of the selected ones is the Bangun Rejo Village Eco-tourism program in Tenggarong Seberang, a Trigona Zwageri BRJ Forest Farmers Group program. In this program, land greening activities will be developed through planting kelulut bee food plants. Planting of fast-growing plants and endemic plants of Kalimantan will also be carried out.

To support educational activities related to biodiversity conservation, PHKT also supports constructing environmentally-based educational facilities and infrastructure such as arboretums.

PT Pertamina Hulu East Kalimantan (PHKT) is a subsidiary of PHI that manages upstream oil and gas operations and business by Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in the East Kalimantan & Attaka Working Area in East Kalimantan. PHKT, together with other PHI subsidiaries and affiliates, carries out innovative Social and Environmental Responsibility programs in Economy, Education, Health, Environment, Infrastructure, and Disaster Response to support sustainable community empowerment and achievement of Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). PHI's headquarters is in Jakarta. More information about PHI is available at https://phi.pertamina.com.