Public Health – Astra Agro Lestari

Rejuvenating Rivers Through Riparian Rehabilitation

Admin25 — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 09:25:16 +0000

Riparian ecosystems or riverbanks are habitats for various types of plants and animals, which play an important role in maintaining biodiversity. This boundary line also has vital ecological functions, such as maintaining water quality, preventing erosion, and reducing flood impacts.
Because riverbanks are very important for the sustainability of the ecosystems living within them, Astra Agro is committed to always preserving them. This is even outlined in the five-year sustainability action plan (2021 – 2025). The company focuses its rehabilitation program on riparian ecosystems due to their important role in the survival of species by ensuring the availability of food and habitat.

Tree planting or replanting has become the main focus in the riverbank rehabilitation program. Astra Agro provides seedling needs that are suitable for the area size and land compatibility. The company does not plant oil palm trees on riverbanks.

Various types of plants such as shade trees, fruit trees, and several fire-resistant plants have been planted by Astra Agro along the riverbanks, so that the roots of the plants can prevent soil erosion. The selection of these plants is based on various ecological aspects such as native plants, local varieties, and non-invasive species.

The strategy for implementing Astra Agro’s rehabilitation activities is sustainable and carried out gradually throughout the year. We also conduct reviews and updates of data from previous riparian rehabilitation efforts. The benefits of our rehabilitation efforts can be seen from the measurement results and documentation of the impact on various bird species that utilize the rehabilitation sites.

Riverbank rehabilitation activities are carried out within the Company’s concession, with a total of 3,100 trees planted in the third quarter of 2024 in Riau, Central Kalimantan, and West Sulawesi. These trees, which represent various species such as Shorea sp., Aquilaria malaccensis, Cerbera manghas, Pterocarpus indicus, Alstonia scholaris, Handroanthus chrysotrichus, Heritiera sp., and Mimusops elengi, were planted over an area of approximately 19.75 hectares. The goal of this planting initiative is to restore the ecological functions of the riparian area, including erosion control and river protection.

The active involvement of employees and the surrounding community in this activity not only enhances the success of the program but also fosters a stronger sense of ownership and responsibility towards the environment. To improve the quality of the environment and river ecosystems, examples of concessions that participated in tree planting for riverbank rehabilitation in the third quarter include PT Eka Dura Indonesia (PT EDI) and PT Kimia Tirta Utama (PT KTU). Through these efforts, it is hoped that awareness of the importance of environmental preservation will increase and provide long-term benefits for the river ecosystem.

Green Pest Management Techniques in Oil Palm Agriculture

Admin25 — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 03:27:51 +0000

In the agribusiness sector, pests present a significant challenge. Plantation companies often resort to using pesticides to manage these pests. However, in alignment with sustainability principles and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), businesses must ensure that their operations do not harm the environment. To address pest threats, Astra Agro Lestari employs environmentally friendly methods, opting for biological pest control techniques instead of chemical solutions.

Biological control involves using predators to suppress pest populations, offering an environmentally friendly alternative that reduces the reliance on pesticides. Astra Agro employs several methods of biological pest control, including the use of Sycanus sp., Tyto alba, and the Turnera Subulata flower.

Sycanus sp.: The Caterpillar Predator

Sycanus sp. is a predator that effectively targets caterpillars, preying on nearly all lepidopteran larvae, including butterflies, which play a role in pollinating oil palm plants. This predator lays its eggs on oil palm leaves, allowing it to reside in the oil palm canopy and actively hunt caterpillars (Abdul et al., 2016). The cultivation of Sycanus predators has been implemented since 2018, contributing to maintaining ecological balance without harming the environment.

Tyto alba: The Owl That Chase After Pests

Astra Agro also innovatively uses Tyto alba, commonly known as the barn owl, to control rat populations in oil palm plantations. This method aims to provide an effective alternative for pest control. To enhance the effectiveness of this strategy, the company places one pair of owls and a nesting site for them across every 20 hectares. Similar to Sycanus sp., these owls help manage pests that threaten oil palm plants.

Turnera Subulata: A Natural Pest Control Plant

In addition to using predators, Astra Agro employs the Turnera Subulata flower, also known as the nine o’clock flower. This flower is an ornamental and medicinal plant and plays a role in pest management. By planting Turnera Subulata on their plantation concessions, the company attracts adult fireworms that rely on the flower’s nectar for food. These adult caterpillars are less likely to attack the oil palm plants with sufficient food sources.

Besides biological control, Astra Agro Lestari has conducted various research initiatives to address pest invasions and enhance pollination success. They have implemented an Early Warning System (EWS) that utilizes digital mapping technology for monitoring plant pest organisms (OPT). This system provides quick and accurate data regarding pest populations, diseases, and the presence of natural enemies.

Transforming Wastes into Opportunities in Oil Palm Plantation

Admin25 — Wed, 22 May 2024 03:34:49 +0000

Mengubah Tantangan Limbah Menjadi Peluang di Kebun Sawit

Collaboration between Astra Agro and Community in Managing Domestic Waste

Various Efforts to Manage and Recycle Domestic Waste in the Community.

Climate change and environmental pollution by waste are issues that are often highlighted, and waste management efforts have become an essential issue in the global community. The company, together with the community in Astra Agro Lestari’s palm oil plantations, have taken innovative and collaborative steps to manage waste more effectively, turn waste into valuable resources, and reduce negative impacts on the environment. This waste management step in the community is included in the “Public Contribution” category in one of PT Astra Agro Lestari’s Sustainability Aspiration charts. This waste reduction effort is within the company and a form of effort in the commitment of the #SemangatKurangiPlastik movement organized by PT Astra International.

Waste Bank

The Waste Bank program known as Bank Sampah invites residents to bring domestic waste such as plastic and paper waste which will later be recycled. This program has been implemented in all communities (Paguyuban) in each Astra Agro subsidiary.

Integrated Waste Processing Program

The existence of trash cans is highly needed in the paguyuban. In response to the high demand, the company provided 132 trash for 20 villages across Astra Agro subsidiaries’ paguyuban in 2023. The presence of trash cans will assist the community in disposing of and managing waste, which should be sorted into organic and inorganic materials.

Semangkup (Semangat Kurangi Plastik) Program

Plastic waste is a significant issue in environmental pollution due to its difficulty in natural decomposition. To address this problem, the company has launched the “Semangat Kurangi Plastik” (Plastic Reduction Movement) program, which encourages the community to reduce their use of plastic bags. So far, 1,536 individuals have been inspired by this initiative, with the company distributing an equal number of eco-friendly shopping bags as alternatives to plastic.

Composting

Non-plastic domestic waste from the paguyuban is composted and used as fertilizer for the plants grown by the residents.

When Students Join Forces to Combat the Domestic Wastes Problem in The Paguyuban

In addition to the efforts of the community, students also play an active role in waste management efforts. With creativity and enthusiasm, they transform domestic waste into useful products, while at the same time teaching the importance of environmentally friendly practices to the surrounding community. This initiative not only helps reduce the amount of waste but also builds a young generation with awareness of the importance of preserving nature from an early age.

Ecobrick

Some subsidiaries of Astra Agro are using gates made from plastic and domestic waste.

Ecobricks are environmentally friendly building materials that can serve as a substitute for traditional foundations. At PT GSPP, students create ecobricks by filling plastic bottles with plastic waste. This waste primarily comes from their homes and neighborhoods. In addition to the students’ efforts, paguyuban members also regularly collect plastic waste for recycling into ecobricks. Some of the products made from these ecobricks include benches, fences, and gates.

Handicrafts

In addition to making ecobrick, students of the foster schools and residents of the association are also active in making handicrafts from waste, such as decorations or bags.

Fashion Show from Recycled Clothing

Under the guidance of their teachers, the students creatively designed and made dresses from recycled domestic waste. These dresses can be seen at the fashion show held during the school’s Creative Day event.

Science Experiments

A student at the school shows how to create a battery using palm kernel shells on the school’s official YouTube channel.

The initiative not only involves processing domestic waste but also teaches students from the company’s partner schools how to process waste from palm trunks. For instance, Astra Agro Lestari Junior High School conducted a scientific project focused on renewable energy, specifically creating bioenergy from palm kernel shells sourced from Astra Agro plantations. You can watch the process of making this biobattery on the SMP Astra Agro Lestari YouTube channel. Additionally, students at Astra Makmur Jaya Junior High School developed an innovative method for making broth using fresh fruit bunches (FFB) from palm oil.

The Next Step in Waste Management

In the future, waste management initiatives will focus on promoting economic empowerment within the community. Pingkan Nabila, the CSR Assistant at PT GISP, stated that plans for household waste management will involve maggot cultivation using organic waste to improve soil quality, as well as processing waste into livestock feed, such as feed used for catfish nurseries.

“Currently, the community has a program called “Muslimah Berkas,” where residents collect waste to sell to a third party. The income generated from these sales is saved and will later be used to assist residents in need. Therefore, in addition to processing household waste, the community uses it to support charitable activities.” – Pingkan Nabila, Asisten CSR PT GSIP.