Batang Toru, July 15, 2024 – Commemorating World Environment Day 2024, PT Agincourt Resources, the operator of the Martabe Gold Mine, showed its commitment through concrete actions to plant 3,310 tree seedlings throughout June 2024 and expand the area of the plant nursery facility to 6,000 square meters, double the previous area.
General Manager Operations of PT Agincourt Resources, Rahmat Lubis, said the theme of World Environment Day 2024, namely “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience” is a call to action for us to jointly face one of the major environmental challenges today, namely accelerating the restoration of degraded land. This is in line with the program implemented by the Company.
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”We are very enthusiastic in celebrating World Environment Day with concrete actions that can have a positive impact on the environment and surrounding communities. Our initiatives in preserving nature are not only a social responsibility, but also a long-term investment in a sustainable future,” said Rahmat.
PT Agincourt Resources (PTAR) working area in South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, has certainly become part of the Company’s commitment in rehabilitating post-mining land by trees planting and seddling.
In the field of planting, in June 2024 PTAR planted 1,640 tree seedlings in the reclamation area and 1,670 tree seedlings in the native forest. During the semester I of 2024, the number of seedlings planted in the reclamation area was 4,567 tree seedlings and in the native forest 8,860 tree seedlings. Meanwhile, the total reclamation area until June this year reached 64.52 hectares.
“This reclamation activity is in line with the obligations of mining business license (IUP) holders in fulfilling aspects of mining environmental management, reclamation, and post-mining and post-operation as stipulated in the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Regulation Number 26 of 2018,” Rahmat said.
In the field of plant nurseries, PTAR has expanded the Nursery to 6,000 square meters, double the initial area.
Environmental Manager of Agincourt Resources, Mahmud Subagya, said that the expansion of the Nursery is expected to support research activities and innovation in environmental management and biodiversity around the Martabe Gold Mine.
”Besides to increase the seedling production, we are expanding the Nursery to support the activity of post-mining reclamation and support the biodiversity program,” he said.
The expansion of the Nursery also includes the construction of a mycorrhiza laboratory that can be used to analyze the number and species of mycorrhizal spores and individuals from reclaimed areas and native forests.
The results of the research will be used to identify appropriate recommendations to optimally support the land reclamation process. In addition, program replication can produce mycorrhizal biofertilizer that can be used in Martabe’s operational areas and surrounding communities,” Mahmud said.
Every year, the Nursery produces around 48,000 local plant seedlings. The types are included namely Torop (Artocarpus elasticus), Simarbaliding (Ixonanthes reticulata), Medang (Litsea elliptica), Pulai (Alstonia scholaris), Kapur Barus (Dryobalanopssp) and Kruing (Dipterocarpus sp).
A number of seeding methods are used in the nursery. One of them is the seed ball, which is a small sphere with a diameter of 20-30 centimeters containing top soil, compost, and plant seeds. The seeds are later thrown into natural forest areas or reclamation areas, especially for the purposes of local plant enrichment and ecosystem restoration. Apart from being thrown directly, seed balls can be dropped using helicopter assistance (aeroseedling).
Other methods used at the PTAR Nursery include the development of tissue culture technology, pillow ball and hydroseeding planting.
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Ahead of World Environment Day on June 5, PTAR planted 60,000 mangrove seedlings and spread 50,000 clam and crab seedlings on 19 hectares of land in Kalangan Village and Sitio-tio Hilir Village, Pandan District, Central Tapanuli. With this second mangrove planting action, the total number of mangrove seedlings that PTAR has planted since 2023 is 90,000 seedlings in an area of 29 hectares.
In the realm of education and socialization, PTAR held a seminar themed “Land Restoration Strategies in Support of Climate Change Mitigation and Conservation of Tropical Rainforest Ecosystem”. The seminar, which was attended by around 150 people online and offline, presented two presenters, namely Professor and Lecturer at the Faculty of Forestry, University of North Sumatra, Prof. Dr. Delvian and Team Leader of the Non-Carbon Benefits Assessment Guidelines for REDD+ Implementation, Dr. Phil. Iding A. Haidir.
The World Environment Day celebration was closed with an Environmentally Friendly Village Competition in Batang Toru and Muara Batang Toru sub-districts with a total prize of IDR 67.5 million.
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Garoga Village was the first winner, followed by Hapesong Baru Village which was the second winner, and Pardamean Village was the third winner. Meanwhile, the first runner-up was won by Aek Pining Village, the second runner-up was Wek III Village, and the third runner-up was Hutabaru Siagian Village.
Garoga Village Head, Risman Rambe, said the village’s victory was proof of the villagers’ success in reducing negative impacts on the environment and creating a healthy and sustainable environment.
The competition prize of IDR 20 million will be used to increase the village treasury to buy a village ambulance, which will be very useful for the residents,” he said.
