Batulicin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Coal mining company PT Arutmin Indonesia is preparing thousands of tree seedlings to restore the forest in Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan Province.
"Every period, we prepare 120,000 tree seedlings for 192 hectares at the Jiringa Nursery in Simpang Empat Sub-district (Tanah Bumbu)," said Andik Mirta Yusianto, EACD Superintendent of PT Arutmin Indonesia Batulicin, here on Thursday.
THe seeds, he said, are first sown in the seedbeds, then cared until they reach weaning stage, and then planted at the reclaim area when they reach 30 cm in height.
PT Arutmin's reclamation target for former mine is 2,100 hectares, so far 1,100 hectares have been reclaimed.
The planted seedlings include hibiscur (waru), cihar, sengon, lalaban, salam, merbau, sungkai, and eucalyptus trees.
The company is not just planting trees, its management nurtures them until the planted trees truly thrive and grow back to their original state as a forest.
"In this case, the criteria for successful reclamation is planting up to 40 percent of local seedling from outside of the reclamation area. Thus, the company's responsility goes beyond planting, but to ensure the forest habitat restore," said Andik
PT Arutmin business areas are Mangkalapi, Teluk Kepayang sub-district, covering an area of 200 hectare and all have been reclaimed.
Atak Block in Mentewe Sub-district, Mereh Block in Simpang Empat Sub-district, Serongga Block in Sungai Dua Village and Batu Ampar, Simpang Empat Sub-district, Tanah Bumbu.
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