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Celebrating Women’s Contributions to The Forestry Sector in APRIL Group
Recognizing the pivotal role of women in today's business world has become more crucial than ever before
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ecognizing the pivotal role of women in today's business world has become more crucial than ever before. A diverse, inclusive, and sustainable business environment is built on gender equality, where different viewpoints are respected, and implementing solutions that work for a brighter future.
According to the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2021, Indonesia ranks 85th out of 156 countries in terms of gender equality. While this is an improvement from its ranking of 100th in 2020, there is still a significant gender gap in the country.
Some of these changes are already manifesting around us, including at pulp and paper producer APRIL Group. As a signatory of the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) since November 2021, the company endeavors to become more aligned with global standards of advancing equal opportunities and participation for women at work.
In January 2022, APRIL Group published its standalone Human Rights Policy, publicly committing the organization to promote equal opportunity and diversity in the workplace, including equal opportunity and participation for women, and seek to eliminate all forms of discrimination and harassment.
While the forestry sector is typically associated with male-dominated industry, APRIL Group has taken positive strides in promoting gender equality, ensuring roles within the company are equally accessible to both men and women as part of its APRIL2030 Inclusive Progress targets, primarily in the business world where recognizing the crucial role of women has never been more loudly demanded.
Our collective destination to bridge the gap will not be reached without women’s full, equal participation and leadership. In celebration of Kartini Day on April 21, meet three women who are forging exciting works in the land-based industry.
Breaking Down Stereotypes in Conservation
Tiurma Rosinta Siagian, a molecular biology graduate, is breaking stereotypes that women do not fit in the forest. Tiurma found her passion when she joined RER (Restorasi Ekosistem Riau), a pioneering private sector-led collaborative program to restore and conserve ecologically important high conservation areas on Indonesia’s Kampar Peninsula and Padang Island in the Province of Riau, initiated by APRIL. “The communal call of the Agile Gibbon, the chirps of songbirds, the aqueous monotonic sounds of the Serkap River flowing, and the forest leaves rippling in the wind – these are all refreshing and feels very satisfying to know that our effort is meaningful,” Tiur said.
RER oversees a 150,000-hectare degraded peatland area, which is the last and largest intact tropical peat swamp forest in Sumatra and home for 838 species of plant and animal. Many are of conservation concern as being Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered.
Tiur shared an unforgettable experience during her tenure at RER was the rehabilitation and recovery of an injured female Sumatran Tiger in 2019, a critically endangered species. As part of the RER Communications team, Tiur also actively involved in raising public awareness on the importance of conservation and biodiversity including supporting a documentary “Frontier Sumatra” that tells the incredible story of the people, the animals and the land of Kampar Peninsula in Riau Province, last year. The documentary has been shown at five cities so far that aims to provide an interactive platform for university students to learn about forest conservation and restoration.
Moving the Needle as a Female Electrician
When Edenia Prudenty joined APRIL Group as an Electrical Technician in the Finishing Maintenance department, she was surprised to discover that, "I was the first female electrician of this department, and I am very proud of that," said Edenia, who was 22-years-old when she took the role.
Edenia has always viewed working with electrical part like solving a tic-tac-toe game. She has been fascinated by mending damaged devices and completing numerous do-it-yourself projects since she was a child, and she decided to pursue a degree in electrical engineering. Finishing school, she joined APRIL Group because she believed that it would provide her with all the support she needed to prosper and enhance her professional career.
Not only has it improved her technical knowledge from the day-to-day work challenges she encounters, the regular skills training that she receives and the supportive environment from her colleagues. Her co-workers, who are predominantly male, have allowed her to learn and contribute to the same working realm as they do, viewing each other as equals, narrowing the gap to pursue the desired goals.
"I am thankful for the challenges I experience and the support I receive at work. APRIL certainly provides a positive atmosphere for young people like me," explained Edenia.
Balancing Motherhood and Career
After previously receiving a Regional Champion scholarship that was supported by Tanoto Foundation and APRIL Group, Sri Ella Gisti joined the company in 2019 as a plantation assistant, monitoring and maintaining plantation forests areas from planting to harvesting process in Logas Estate, Riau.
After two years in the role, Ella’s determination and hard work led her to being promoted as a plantation trainer: “I’m very proud that I am the only female plantation trainer in the plantation division, and supporting our company to improve its human capital.”
As a plantation trainer, Ella manages training new plantation employees, as well as providing certification training to APRIL contractors operating in APRIL estates.
Finding a balance between the responsibilities of raising a family and pursuing a career is a challenging one, yet supportive working environment goes a long way. Ella’s initial fear of burdening her team, given the nature of her job where she sometimes had to go into the field accompanying her trainees, proved unfounded, as her team rallied to support her.
"My co-workers were willing to support throughout my pregnancy,” she said.
Not one to stay in her comfort zone, Ella aspires to advance into a leadership role and contribute to APRIL’s diversity goals by helping more women enter the forestry industry. "When I take up a leadership role, I will prepare women employees to be ready for important positions such as supervisors, superintendents and managers to challenge the stigma associated with women in the forestry industry.”
APRIL Group's commitment to gender equality and inclusion is not just limited to its employees. The company has also established partnerships with local communities, NGOs, and other stakeholders to promote women's empowerment and gender equality in the areas where it operates.
This article was published in collaboration with APRIL Group.
