Jakarta, June 19, 2023 – For the first time, IPC Terminal Petikemas/IPC TPK has carried out an environmental conservation initiative on Pramuka Island in the Thousand Islands National Park, located approximately 45 km north of Jakarta. IPC TPK is engaging in environmental care activities through mangrove planting and coral reef rehabilitation as efforts to combat the climate crisis and demonstrate the company’s commitment through the Pelindo Peduli program in support of the government’s green port initiative.
“We are committed to the preservation of the environment, both on land and in the sea, across all areas of IPC TPK’s operations. This time, the TJSL program is being implemented in the Thousand Islands National Park, which is located close to the Tanjung Priok Port where IPC TPK operates five container terminals. In its implementation, IPC TPK is encouraging collaboration with Pelindo Group, partnerships with universities, and local community groups,” said Guna Mulyana, President Director of IPC TPK.
In collaboration with the Subholding Pelindo Terminal Petikemas, IPC TPK conducted the planting of 1,000 mangrove seedlings and the transplantation of 1,400 coral reefs using the Rocklife Method in the waters of Pramuka Island, Thousand Islands National Park. This initiative is carried out in commemoration of World Oceans Day and as part of the 10th anniversary celebration of IPC TPK, aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 14 on Life Below Water.
Herman, Chairman of the Youth Group for Nature Conservation on Pramuka Island (Smiling Coral Indonesia), expressed appreciation to IPC TPK for their environmental conservation efforts in the Thousand Islands National Park. Mangrove areas and coral reefs provide many benefits, such as land expansion, erosion and wave protection, promoting fisheries productivity as fish habitats, and serving as habitats for various animals such as shrimp, crabs, fish, snakes, and eagles. Moreover, this initiative greatly benefits the residents of Pramuka Island as nearly 70% of their livelihood depends on eco-tourism.
In recent years, environmental issues in the Thousand Islands National Park have become increasingly complex, including seasonal floods, with eight islands already submerged and 14 islands at risk of sinking due to coastal erosion, pollution from waste coming from the capital city, industrial impacts, sea use changes, and declining fish catches for fishermen due to damaged fish habitats.
Climate change has had a significant impact on the marine conditions in Indonesia. One of the consequences of climate change is the considerable damage to coral reef ecosystems in the Thousand Islands. According to a study conducted in 2022, cited from the Journal of Marine and Applied Fisheries, the percentage of coral cover in the Thousand Islands is around 23.29% to 34.98%. This falls under the low to moderate category, indicating that the condition of the coral reefs consists mainly of sand, broken corals, and sediments.
“Previously, in collaboration with Pelindo Group, IPC TPK participated in the planting of 55,000 mangrove seedlings in Asemrowo, Surabaya, and the planting of 300 trees in the Tanjung Priok Port area. In the future, we plan to continue our greening efforts by planting trees throughout our operational areas, planting coral reefs in Panjang, and planting mangroves in several locations,” concluded Guna.