Bekantan conservation delivers PT AGM to win Green Proper

The Acting Regional Secretary of South Kalimantan Roy Rizali Anwar hands over Proper award to one of the companies in Banjarbaru, Monday (Dec 28, 2020). (ANTARA/HO)

One of the things we have done so far is restoration and developing the proboscis monkey (bekantan) ecosystem...

Banjarbaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The development of conservation area for galam swamp forest and the habitat of the endangered bekantan (nasalis larvatus) has delivered PT Antang Gunung Meratus (AGM) to win the 2020 Green Proper from the Provincial Government of South Kalimantan.

Acting Regional Secretary Roy Rizali Anwar represented Governor H Sahbirin Noor to handed over the awards at the South Kalimantan Provincial Proper Awarding Ceremony at the Environment Agency Office in Banjarbaru, Monday.

PT Arutmin Indonesia NPLCT Kotabaru also received the Green Proper, 23 companies received Blue Proper, and one company received Red Proper.

The Proper Award is a government effort to encourage companies to comply with environmental management.

PT AGM Section Head of Environment Daniel Siregar said that the company was grateful that the various environmental programs it has carried out delivered the company to win the Green Proper.

"One of the things we have done so far is restoration and developing the proboscis monkey (bekantan) ecosystem. We also made considerable effort to save quite a lot of energy (fuel) through the construction of canals for coal transportation," he said.

Read also: PT AGM donates to support HSS's one million masks movement

In developing ecotourism and conservation area for bekantan, PT AGM has been working with the Tapin government since 2012 to save the proboscis monkey habitat and peatland ecosystem from the forest fire.

The restoration of galam swamp forest in Lawahan Village targets a conservation forest area of 90 hectares.

Roy Rizali hopes that companies still in red or blue status to improve their performance to get a better one.

Head of the Environment Agency Hanifah Dwi Warna said that there was a reduction in the number of companies assessed this year due to budget cuts related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to back up National Proper (Propernas) activities.

Read also: Hijau Daun greening Pitap Dam in Balangan
Read also: Regent of Tanah Bumbu confered Siddhakarya award