ABU DHABI, UAE – October 13, 2025 – PT Agincourt Resources (PTAR), operator of the Martabe Gold Mine, today unveiled a major land-use commitment dedicated to biodiversity conservation within the critical Batang Toru Ecosystem. This bold pledge, which encompasses circa 5,700 hectares of land, was the central topic at the IUCN World Conservation Congress 2025 during the session titled, “Beyond Extraction: Exploring Biodiversity Refugia in Indonesian Production Landscapes.”
PTAR’s initiative establishes a new benchmark for resource extraction, demonstrating how large-scale mining can be paired with significant, measurable contributions to conservation. The Batang Toru Ecosystem is the sole habitat of the Critically Endangered Tapanuli orangutan.
The session, held at the IUCN Asia Pavilion, was moderated by Professor Jatna Supriatna, Chairman of the Research Center for Climate Change (RCCC) ISER FMIPA at Universitas Indonesia, underscoring the necessity of robust scientific input in private sector environmental stewardship.
A Dual-Pronged Strategy of Substantial Scale
PTAR Vice President Director, Ruli Tanio, detailed a strategy that moves far beyond minimal compliance to achieve a net positive impact on the region’s biodiversity through two major, landscape-scale land-use initiatives:
- On-Site Refugia within the Concession: PTAR has formally designated approximately 2,000 hectares of its Contract of Work (CoW) area as an actively managed, long-term biodiversity refugia. This on-site area acts as a crucial buffer and an essential ecological corridor, strategically maintained to sustain the health and movement of local wildlife, including key primate species.
- Significant Biodiversity Offset Project: Furthermore, the company committed to developing a large-scale biodiversity offset project located outside the mine’s immediate operational area. This significant compensatory project, which is expected to encompass circa 3,700 hectares, is aligned with the final stage of the international mitigation hierarchy. It is designed to compensate for unavoidable biodiversity impacts by securing and enhancing a much larger, ecologically significant area.
“Our commitment goes far beyond our immediate operational footprint,” said Ruli Tanio. “By dedicating 2,000 hectares within our concession as a managed refugia and committing to a significant additional offset area, we will be securing a substantial amount of land for the long-term protection of the Batang Toru ecosystem. This is a deliberate, science-driven effort to deliver a net positive impact.”
Science and Innovation Drive Conservation
PTAR’s land protection commitment is coupled with innovative, evidence-based ecological projects:
- Ecological Connectivity: The company continues to install arboreal bridges with camera traps across fragmented areas, ensuring the safe passage of tree-dwelling wildlife and contributing valuable data to conservation research.
- Expert Oversight: The entire conservation strategy is overseen by an independent Biodiversity Advisory Panel (BAP) of top Indonesian and international scientists.
- Research Hub: PTAR has also established an on-site orangutan research station and specialized laboratories to foster evidence-based conservation within the ecosystem.
The “Beyond Extraction” session, which also featured contributions from other major Indonesian production companies, emphasized the potential for industrial landscapes to serve as unexpected but vital refuges for endangered species. PTAR positioned itself as a leader in nature-positive mining, demonstrating that strategic planning, dedicated land-use, and scientific collaboration allow resource development to meaningfully contribute to reversing biodiversity loss. As Ruli Tanio quipped at the session, “Instead of treating us as enemies, our dear conservationist and biologist friends should view us as an ally—maybe not natural, but a strategic one.”
