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PT Bio Inti Agrindo and Merauke administration thrive in nature conservation
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here are numerous ways the general public can get involved in environmental conservation, However, “how” remains a timeless question.
We tend to forget that it all starts with us, the children of our nations. One hand can make a change, as societies adapt and transform the environments they inhabit.
Discovered in research published in Law Teacher, environmental issues are best handled when each individual has access to information concerning the environment held by public authorities, and the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process. The public should be encouraged by making information widely available.
This must include protecting the rights of indigenous communities that reside within regions that tend to get overlooked. Their rights must be protected as well—protecting the natural resources within their lands as an equal space for visibility must be implemented.
And Indonesia paints this year with such light.
A transformation for the good, June 26 marked the establishment of a strategic alliance for community development and environmental conservation between the local administration of Merauke and PT Bio Inti Agrindo (PT BIA) with a shared goal of helping Merauke become a prosperous, healthy and educated community.
This alliance has implemented programs to ensure planned activities are on track alongside the community’s needs.
Yanto Dawenan, general manager and representative of PT BIA, said the company had formed this program as part of PT BIA's commitment to becoming a sustainable company. He had noticed that further steps needed to be taken to further the program, which required support from stakeholders to ensure the activities planned for the eight villages of the program, Selil, Kindiki, Pachas, Muting, Boha, Kolam, Wan and Selauw, were well attained.
Inclusivity, especially in giving a voice for those who were voiceless, has been met with this program. By providing supplementary food (PMT) for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children under the age of five, it is hoped is that the mothers and children of Merauke will meet a life of prosperity, free from the harms of stunting brought on by nutritional deficiencies for long periods, resulting the disruption of growth in children.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo launched a program to prevent stunting in the 2020-2024 National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) with a target to reduce stunting from a rate 24.4 percent nationally in 2021 to 14 percent in 2024. He recognized this as one of the issues that deserved to be a national priority.
"[It is hoped] the Malind community will have smart children, so that they can build the city of Merauke,” noted Jeremias Ndiken, secretary of Merauke, in his opening remarks during the public consultation. This was further branched toward the distribution of plasma profits to ensure it is used properly by the communities, divided and set aside for savings.
Held on Monday, the public consultation was opened with a warming speech of hope given by Pastor Hengki, who shares the dream that Papua will experience economic development and conservation programs through the Merauke regional administration and PT Bia’s collaboration.
"May God always give blessings and grant all good wishes, for the welfare of the people of the land of Papua," prayed Pastor Hengki.
Remarkable attendees also included the region’s Education Office, Health Office, Village Community Empowerment Office and representatives of village heads, indigenous people institutions, religious leaders and community leaders, alongside the Investment and One-Stop Integrated Service Office (DPMPTSP), the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA), the Food Security Office, Yasanto Polytechnic, Musamus University and other participants.
Resit Sozer, program manager of PT BIA shone light on research being done in
sociocultural and economic studies with Yasanto Merauke Polytechnic in his presentation, Benchmarks/indicators of success in the program’s implementation. The two institutions have been in an ongoing yet promising partnership since June 2022
Resit and Dr. Wawang explained this year's health program plan, which included nutritional information within the planned mentoring activities for the next 12 months. They also announced the promising results of PT BIA’s collaboration with Village Community Development and Empowerment Program (P3MD).
The alliance has succeeded in forming village-owned enterprises (BUMK) in three villages within the year, namely in Selil, Kindiki and Muting, which have been part of a pilot project to manage local businesses, publicize about the establishment of BUMK and the preparation of articles of association and village deliberations. This was done in May 2023 through the Village Facilitator Expert Pre-Task Training Module (TAPM P3MD), TPP Muting district and Ulilin district as well as PT Bio Inti Agrindo.
