MPMX Inaugurates Coral Reef Transplantation Programme on Messah Island
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Automotive consumer company PT Mitra Pinasthika Mustika Tbk (MPMX) has inaugurated a coral reef transplantation programme in Pasir Putih Village, Messah Island, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), as part of the company’s commitment to supporting environmental preservation within its operational areas.
The programme is part of ‘MPM Green Action 2026’, an MPMX sustainability initiative focusing on environmental conservation and community empowerment.
“For MPMX, environmental concern must be realised through concrete steps taken consistently and sustainably,” said Natalia Lusnita, GM of Corporate Communication & Sustainability at MPMX, in a written statement on Friday.
“The inauguration of this coral reef transplantation programme is a continuation of the process we began with the community since last April,” Natalia added.
She explained that the selection of Messah Island as the programme location was based on recommendations and coordination with the Komodo National Park Authority.
Messah Island is part of the buffer zone for Komodo National Park and plays a vital role in supporting the ecosystem’s conservation. The location was also identified as an area requiring support for coral reef ecosystem recovery.
Prior to the transplantation stage, MPMX initiated the programme with a community-based approach, providing education on the importance of protecting marine and coral reef ecosystems, particularly to fishermen operating in the waters surrounding Komodo National Park.
MPMX also provided training on the creation and management of coral nursery media to representatives of the Pasir Putih Village Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis).
The training involved hands-on practice with technical assistance, ranging from introducing coral nursery methods and selecting suitable coral fragments for transplantation to installing media, monitoring coral growth, and techniques for transplanting into rehabilitation areas.
These activities are part of an effort to increase local community capacity so they can play a role in supporting the sustainable conservation of coral reef ecosystems.
As part of the programme’s implementation, MPMX targets the transplantation of 500 coral seedlings using 32 spider frame units as transplantation media.
The programme is designed as a long-term initiative that focuses not only on planting but also on ecosystem recovery and strengthening community participation in maintaining marine environmental sustainability.
“We want this programme not to stop at transplantation activities, but to evolve into a long-term effort to help restore and maintain the marine ecosystem while building the capacity and involvement of the community as an essential part of the programme’s sustainability,” said Natalia.
“Therefore, collaboration with the government, regional authorities, local communities, and various stakeholders is key to ensuring the benefits of this programme can grow and be felt in the long term,” Natalia added.
The four-year programme is directed towards providing interconnected benefits across environmental, social, and economic aspects. This approach aligns with a series of MPMX environmental initiatives in NTT.
During the 2022–2025 period, MPMX planted 100,000 mangroves in Golo Sepang Village, integrated with community empowerment programmes through mangrove crab cultivation and the development of MSMEs based on local potential.
“We welcome and appreciate MPMX’s commitment to supporting coral reef preservation on Messah Island. The sea is a vital part of our community’s life, so efforts to protect its ecosystem are a shared interest,” said the Head of Pasir Putih Village, Mustaming.
Mustaming expressed hope that the programme would continue to involve the community and provide benefits for both environmental preservation and the economic development of the Messah Island community.
“The village government is ready to support and cooperate to ensure this programme runs sustainably,” Mustaming concluded.