Brebes, 17 August 2024 — Maintaining the dedication to protecting the environment, Square Resources Holdings Singapore Pte Ltd. joins forces with Indonesia Indah Foundation (IIF) to strengthen the coastline of Pandansari, Kaliwlingi Village, in Brebes, Central Java. The joint forces are planting 50,000 mangrove trees on the Indonesian Independence Day 2024, as part of the 3-year commitment to plant 150,000 mangrove seedlings in Kaliwlingi Village to protect coastlines and equip locals with education on sustainability and eco-tourism.
The coast of Pandansari, Kaliwlingi Village, has been fighting the problem of coastal abrasion (from 1963 to 2009) and erosion. As one of the areas experiencing severe abrasion in the Brebes Regency, the abrasion in Pandansari to date has reached extreme levels, covering 800 hectares of productive land that has been completely eroded by seawater.
Planting or reforesting mangrove trees along the coastline is a potential preventive measure. The abrasion had a direct impact on the Kaliwlingi residents, who witnessed rising sea levels and the loss of aquaculture production land.
Over the course of three years, the objective of the mangrove planting program run by IIF, together with local planters KMPHP Mangrovesari, is to slowly but surely equip these coastal villages with the same habitat and marine ecosystem that had previously thrived in this region.
Last year, through IIF’s Saya Pahlawan Lingkungan (I’m an Environmental Hero) education program, local school children and local teachers at national schools in the area were also being educated on environmental sustainability. Local villagers were also being trained as eco-tourism guides, in an effort to empower them to protect the coastline and newly planted forests for decades to come.
Square Resources Holding Singapore Pte Ltd. has been supporting activities organised by IIF since 2019 through the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. Prior to becoming an official Foundation Partner in 2020, the company had begun to support Hari Bersih Indonesia (HBI). Hari Bersih Indonesia, organised by IIF every year, is an annual national-scale clean-up day to highlight the issue of littering and plastic waste in Indonesia.
Last year, Square Resources Holding Singapore Pte Ltd. began the first phase of the 150,000 mangrove seedlings planting plan, conducted under IIF’s A Tree for Life program. In 2022, the company also participated in the planting of 10,000 mangrove seedlings in Pandansari, Kaliwlingi village, Brebes, Central Java. Currently, the Company has donated 110,000 mangrove trees in this region, with the aim to plant 160,000 trees by the year 2025.
Angela Jelita Richardson, Co-Founder of Indonesia Indah Foundation conveyed her enthusiasm about the partnership. “We are committed to working with Square Resources to support the people and environment in Brebes Regency, which is perfectly in line with our goal of creating a sustainable future for Indonesia. Our objective is to create a positive impact that will have a lasting effect on future generations,” said Angela.