Adaro seeks to save Kalimantan endemic forest plants

PT Adaro Indonesia has developed its post-mining program, especially in managing the reclamation area, by collecting seeds of endemic forest plant of Kalimantan. (Antaranews Kalsel/special)

Each zone will worth education tour, forestry study place, and a place for the introduction of most complete endemic plants in Kalimantan.

Tanjung, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - PT Adaro Indonesia has developed its post-mining program, especially in managing the reclamation area, by collecting seeds of endemic forest plant of Kalimantan.

It is not just fulfilling government regulations, said Research and Development Section Head for PT Adaro Indonesia QHSE Compliance, Fazlul Wahyudi, but the company seeks to save the Kalimantan endemic forest plants.

Actually, it has been running since 2012 as the company cooperated with Research Institute for Environment Development and Forestry (BP2LHK) Banjarbaru, and Adaro was the pioneer of mining companies in Kalimantan to do this.

At the beginning, Fazlul Wahyudi as the initiator said, it was only to collect hard woody plant seeds, such as meranti and ironwoood, to replace the predecessor plants in the reclamation area. "Plants such as sengon and acacia were entering their full ducties, so we planted hard plants to replace them," he told.

However, as time running, he said, awareness slowly formed that the collection of plant seeds also saved Kalimantan's biodiversity.

Since 2012 until now, at least 30 thousands seeds from various types of plants have been collected, including meranti and ironwood, and several types of wetland plants.

Adaro made post-mining zoning area with four zone on land and waters, namely utilization zone, buffer zone, biodiversity zone, and tourism zone. In addtion to having established function, these four zones have other attraction, namely ecotourism.

Each zone will worth education tour, forestry study place, and a place for the introduction of most complete endemic plants in Kalimantan.

"It surplus value is all on the former mining land, something that might have never been imagined could be done. It's a kind of arboeretuem or collection plant," Fazlul said.