Prof Hefni Effendi, Professor of IPB University in the field of environmental management explained the biodiversity action plan (BAP) which is one of the important instruments in environmental management.

In the event of Submission and Validation of Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Documents with the Roadmap for Achieving Net Positive Impact (NPI) PT Pertamina Hulu Rokan Regional 1 Zone 4 – Pendopo Field, he explained that BAP is an environmental management instrument that is currently popular in the globally oriented business world.

“Although BAP is a voluntary environmental management instrument, the interest of companies to compile BAP seems to be prominent lately. Especially for companies that adopt Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG). BAP is one of the elements used as an indicator of ESG performance,” said Prof Hefni.

As the leader of the BAP study team, Prof Hefni thoroughly explained the results of his study including scoping, overview of the study area, stakeholder engagement, biodiversity features, biodiversity value, biodiversity impact assessment, targets and ambitions, and biodiversity management plan.

Many inputs were submitted at this meeting, especially information related to efforts to protect biodiversity that have been carried out by the Natural Resources Conservation Centre (BKSDA) of South Sumatra Province in collaboration with other companies in the South Sumatra region. 

“Therefore, a number of action plans listed in the BAP can be synergised with existing activities that are already running. Thus, the achievement will be optimum,” said Prof Hefni.

The event, which was held at the Marriott Hotel, Pesawaran Regency, Lampung Province, was attended by all levels who handle the environment from PT Pertamina Pendopo Field, Pertamina Sub-Holding Hulu (SHU), and Pertamina Persero. The Chief of the South Sumatra Provincial BKSDA and the Chief of the South Sumatra Provincial Environmental and Land Agency (DLHP) were also present.

The Chief of South Sumatra Province BKSDA, Teguh Setiawan, highly welcomed Pertamina Pendopo Field’s efforts to actively participate in preserving biodiversity functions and services around the oil and gas exploration and exploitation area.

“One of the features of biodiversity that is the target and ambition is the conservation of Sumatran elephants. We will greatly appreciate any steps taken by Pertamina Pendopo Field to participate in this conservation effort. Especially if the action plan formulated in this BAP document has clear targets and indicators of achievement, which are measured according to the dimensions of space and time,” Teguh said.

Chief of DLHP of South Sumatra Province, Herdi Apriansyah also expressed his support for Pertamina Pendopo Field’s efforts to maintain biodiversity in its working area.

The event was followed by a collective signing, as a joint commitment of a number of stakeholders in protecting biodiversity. Environmental officials from Pertamina Persero and Pertamina SHU emphasised that Pertamina and all its subsidiaries have a strong commitment to preserving the surrounding environment, where they carry out their operational activities.

“In this context, it is to preserve the functions and services of biodiversity as outlined in the BAP document. Moreover, Pertamina is a corporation that goes global, so trends at the international level regarding environmental management will certainly always be a foothold that will be followed,” said Pretty Mayang, a Pertamina Persero official.

On the next day, all participants visited the Sumatran Elephant Exitu Conservation Centre in Way Kambas National Park, Lampung Province. On this occasion, knowledge about elephant behaviour such as feed and other matters related to the conservation of Sumatran elephants was presented.