Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – In commemoration of the International Day of Forests, PT Pertamina (Persero) reaffirmed its commitment to environmental conservation by strengthening its Hutan Lestari (Sustainable Forest) initiative. This effort is also part of Pertamina’s long-term strategy to achieve Net Zero Emissions (NZE) by 2060 or earlier.
From 2018 to 2024, Pertamina has planted approximately 9 million trees through the Hutan Lestari program across various regions. This initiative contributes to reducing carbon emissions by up to 222,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent per year.
In a press release on Tuesday (April 15, 2025), Pertamina’s Vice President of Corporate Communication, Fadjar Djoko Santoso, stated that the program focuses not only on environmental aspects but also on the social and economic development of communities living around the forests.
“Pertamina’s Hutan Lestari is a conservation program that integrates land and mangrove reforestation, seedling support, and community economic empowerment. This aligns with this year’s International Day of Forests theme: ‘Forests and Food’,” said Fadjar.
He added that the implementation of this program is aligned with the company’s commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 13 (Climate Action), Goal 14 (Life Below Water), and Goal 15 (Life on Land).
“Community involvement is key to the sustainability of this program. They are not only involved in planting but also experience direct economic benefits,” he said.
Specifically for mangrove planting, Fadjar emphasized its vital role in carbon absorption, preventing coastal abrasion, and reducing the impact of natural disasters such as tsunamis. To date, Pertamina has carried out 337 tree-planting programs across 891 hectares of land, benefiting over 4,700 people with annual income reaching IDR 3 billion per community group.
In addition, Pertamina has also developed a Social Forestry Program at 13 locations across Indonesia, from Sumatra to Papua. Through this program, Pertamina supports 3,795 forest farmers by providing seedlings, organic fertilizer, and forest conservation education.
Pertamina affirmed that environmental conservation efforts will continue to be strengthened in line with its role as a national energy company undergoing an energy transition. These conservation efforts are a vital part of the company’s strategy to support the NZE 2060 target and contribute to global sustainability.
