Though Katingan Mentaya Project’s replanting effort in 2020 had coincided with the global COVID-19 pandemic, our team remains committed to forest reforestation. Hence KMP’s reforestation initiative in 2020 had begun in the first week of June with field preparation done in earlier months. This year’s reforestation initiative was KMP’s 4 th annual replanting effort and has since successfully covered almost 200 hectares of land and planted nearly 50 thousand native tree seedlings. The global COVID-19 pandemic has only strengthened our resolve to care for the planet. Forests and trees mitigate climate change, provide income, livelihoods and well-being for communities, particularly those who live around the forest.

“COVID-19 has changed everything, from how we work to how we take action, but amid these uncertain times, one thing remains certain reforestation must go on” says Fransiscus Harsanto, KMP Forest Restoration Manager, “Due to remote nature of our reforestation sites, our teams will continue to plant and protect thousands of trees without risks of COVID- 19 exposure”

We involved local communities in the planting activities, so that they gain better understanding of the importance of revegetation and its benefits for the community. We acknowledge how serious the COVID-19 pandemic has become, because of that we continue to search proactive ways to care for our employees as well as local communities while still achieving our missions.

“Our workers (KMP staff and communities) are all from the region, but not all of them live in the village nearby. Some workers stay in the camp for a week or two and then travel back home to their families for a longer period, this way we avoid spreading the virus,” added Irmanto, KMP’s Section Head in Restoration, “We also actively remind our staff and communities to maintain distance, care for hygiene standards, and adherence to government travel regulations.”