In mining operations, land clearing is often required for various purposes, such as infrastructure development, exploration activities, and the expansion of mining facilities. However, this process must be carried out in a planned and responsible manner. At Martabe Gold Mine, every land disturbance activity is controlled through the Land Access Disturbance Request (LADR) procedure.
LADR is an internal company approval mechanism that ensures any activity with the potential to disturb land is conducted in accordance with applicable permits while also considering environmental protection. Through this procedure, the area proposed for clearing is first verified to ensure alignment with environmental documents such as the Environmental Impact Assessment (AMDAL – Analisis Mengenai Dampak Lingkungan) and its supporting documents.
In addition, every LADR submission undergoes evaluation by management and the environmental team. This process ensures that the proposed land disturbance area is strictly aligned with operational requirements and that all potential environmental risks have been identified and properly managed from the outset.
Another important aspect of this procedure is the protection of biodiversity. The operational area of Martabe Gold Mine is located near the Batang Toru ecosystem, which is known for its high biodiversity and serves as a habitat for various protected wildlife species. Therefore, before any land clearing takes place, the company requires a pre-clearing survey, an initial assessment conducted to identify the presence of important flora and fauna within the proposed area.
In addition to the preliminary survey, a field inspection is conducted no later than 24 hours before land clearing activities begin. The team carries out a direct inspection to ensure that no protected wildlife—such as orangutans, tigers, pangolins, or hornbills—are present in the area. If any indication of these species is found, land clearing activities must be temporarily halted until the situation is confirmed to be safe.
This approach is aligned with the mitigation hierarchy principle in environmental management, which prioritises avoiding impacts, minimising habitat disturbance, and rehabilitating areas that have already been affected. At Martabe Gold Mine, areas that are no longer in use are rehabilitated through land reshaping, soil quality improvement, and replanting with local plant species.
Through the implementation of the LADR procedure, all land disturbance activities at Martabe Gold Mine are carried out in a controlled and well-documented manner while maintaining a strong commitment to environmental sustainability in the surrounding operational area.
