"Pelindo conducted mangrove planting simultaneously at several locations, comprising an area of 31 hectares in Maros, South Sulawesi; 20 hectares in Naga Bay and 12.5 hectares in Lamo Bay, both in Banten; and 18 hectares in West Langsa, Aceh," Pelindo's President Director, Arif Suhartono, stated at the mangrove planting program kick-off event in Mangngambang, Maros District, South Sulawesi, on Saturday.
Present at the occasion were Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar, and Marine and Fisheries Affairs Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono.
Suhartono said the mangrove planting endeavor is part of the company's corporate social and environmental responsibility (CSER) and a form of the company's support to the national economic recovery program (PEN) as well as to reduce carbon emissions.
In addition to mangrove planting, he said the company had implemented the community development program to boost the people's economy through various programs.
The programs comprised honey bee farming in Keciput Village, Belitung; swamp crab farming in Sampang, Madura, East Java; and development of the mangrove ecotourism area in Karangsong, Indramayu District, West Java.
"The CSER program is prioritized in the three sectors of education, environment, and MSME development," he affirmed.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan applauded Pelindo's synergy with stakeholders in the mangrove planting activity.
"The spirit to encourage the community and stakeholders to plant trees, specifically mangroves in the coastal areas, must be kept alive," he emphasized.
Pelindo signed an agreement with the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Ministry of Forestry and Environment, and Ministry of Marine and Fisheries Affairs to plant mangrove in 125 hectares of land in some regions across the country in 2021.
In 2022, the company has committed to planting mangroves in 145 hectares of land, spread across several regions, including in Mangngambang, South Sulawesi's district of Maros.
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Translator: Suriani Mappong, Sri Haryati
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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