Pertamina's Sustainable Forest: Weaving Harmony with Nature, Reaping Community Prosperity
The sound of bells breaking the silence on the slopes of Mount Agung serves as a prelude to new hope. At Pura Kancing Gumi in Bali, prayers rise as high as 250 metres above sea level, seeking safety for the universe. However, the community in the Mahawana Basuki Besakih Forest area recognises that prayers must be accompanied by concrete actions.
Through the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana—the balance of relationships between humans, God, and nature—Pertamina has arrived via the Hutan Lestari programme. This post-2017 Mount Agung eruption reforestation initiative now goes beyond merely greening the once-barren slopes; it also revives the economic lifelines of village residents.
The local hero behind this transformation, I Nyoman Artana, emphasises the importance of preserving Besakih as the Huluning Bali Rajya, or the headwaters of the Island of the Gods.
“Managing the environment must start from the headwaters. If this location is not maintained well, Bali will be vulnerable to disasters and climate change,” said Nyoman in a written statement on Sunday (22/3/2026).
The results of safeguarding these “headwaters” have borne sweet fruit. Nyoman’s guided group now harvests 100 to 150 kg of honey per year, with the highly beneficial kelanceng honey selling for Rp500,000 per litre.
Not only that, the natural tourism activity in the area has surged dramatically, with the group’s income reaching Rp120 million per month, while also creating jobs for dozens of residents as tourism managers.
This spirit of nature conservation echoes to the soil of Lampung. In Ulubelu, Wastoyo is a living witness to how forests can change a person’s character. Once, the forest was a hunting ground and target for chainsaws; now, it is a home he guards with all his heart.
“In the past, cutting down trees was our instant way to make a living due to ignorance. We were trapped in a cycle of destruction for a bite of rice,” revealed Wastoyo.
The turning point came when Pertamina introduced the Sekolah Hutan Lestari. Through intensive mentoring for KUPS Margo Rukun, these former hunters transformed into skilled cultivators.
They not only planted 50,000 seedlings of Multi-Purpose Tree Species (MPTS) to prevent erosion but also converted coffee waste into high-quality fertiliser through the Pertaganik Bestari unit.
This success is reflected in fantastic figures: KUPS Margo Rukun now records turnover of up to Rp2.2 billion per year. Their seedling products and beekeeping cultivation concepts have even been adopted by various multinational companies as standards for land rehabilitation in Lampung.
Shifting to the southern coast of Java, a unique story emerges from the hands of Wahyono in Kampung Laut, Cilacap. In an area once barren due to large-scale mangrove logging, Wahyono was once considered “mad” by locals for his persistence in replanting mangroves on sterile land full of dead shrimp afflicted by disease.
“Everything was barren before, but I believed mangroves are our natural ‘factory’; now, the locals’ doubts have vanished,” said Wahyono.
Wahyono’s independent nursery can produce up to 800,000 mangrove seedlings annually. The area has now metamorphosed into a recognised edutourism centre by international researchers as a model for coastal ecosystem recovery.
“They used to call me mad; now we’re all ‘mad’ together to protect the forest for the future of our grandchildren,” he said.
Meanwhile, Pertamina’s Vice President of Corporate Communication, Muhammad Baron, stated that these three success stories are proof of Pertamina’s efforts in supporting the national food sovereignty programme. This aligns with the vision of the government under President Prabowo Subianto.
The Hutan Lestari programme has planted more than eight million productive trees and mangroves, and has empowered surrounding communities through the integration of reforestation, economic empowerment, and youth education.
“Pertamina proves that safeguarding the earth’s energy can go hand in hand with igniting community independence; forests are no longer just protected from damage but nurtured to continuously provide life,” Baron continued.
The Hutan Lestari programme contributes to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in ending hunger (SDG 2), ensuring sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12), and climate action (SDG 13).
Additionally, this initiative aligns with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, which form the foundation of Pertamina’s sustainable business operations.