press release SKK Migas - Chevron trains elementary school teachers to support peat restoration program

Duri, June 5, 2021 – To encounter future forest and land fires, SKK Migas – PT. Chevron Pacific Indonesia (PT CPI) together with Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency / Badan Restorasi Gambut dan Mangrove (BRGM) conducted a Training of Trainer (ToT) Peat Protection Education for elementary school teachers in Bengkalis District on June 4-6, 2021.

The objective of this training is for teachers to instill education to their students in elementary school about the importance of sustainability of natural resources and the environment.

The teachers who have been trained will provide education to their students in grade 4 - 6 about the benefits of non-burning land clearing management, or Pengelolaan Lahan Tanpa Bakar (PLTB). It is expected to raise students environmental awareness and encourage them to be environmental stewards when they grow up.

The hybrid event was conducted online and attended by Department Head of Bengkalis Education Edi Sakura, S.Pd, M.Pd, Head of Education Working Groups / Kapokja Education and Socialization of BRGM Dr. Suwignyo Utama, Head of SKK Migas Sumbagut Representative represented by Head of Administrative and Financial Affairs of SKK Migas Sumbagut Supriyono and Manager of Corporate Affairs Asset North Rudi Arief. This event was attended by school teachers from four villages, namely Petani Village, Bumbung Village, Sebangar Village and Balai Makam Village. In addition to being conducted online, the event was also took place offline at Hotel Grand Zuri – Duri, Bengkalis.

"SKK Migas always supports the Community Development Program conducted by KKKS both through cost recovery and sole cost funds and we appreciate PT CPI which has shown its concern for the environment through peat conservation programs in collaboration with BRGM and Bengkalis Education Department", Supriyono said.

"Thanks to Chevron for contributing to the peat conservation program in collaboration with BRGM and Bengkalis Education Department. Hopefully, what is obtained today can be disseminated not only to students but also to the community." said Edi Sakura Department Head of Bengkalis Education. Edi also emphasized to continue to implement health protocols to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

"The implementation of PLTB will become the future of peat land in Indonesia, elementary school teachers are the spearheads that need to be equipped with knowledge as well as learning methods for environmentally conscious learning. So in the future it will be a new behavior that is expected to support peat restoration in Riau," said Rudi Arief. The implementation of PLTB activities is financed through the allocation of social investment funds PT CPI (sole cost).

In the training sponsored by Cakra Konsulting, the teachers will be equipped with the importance of maintaining peat and environmentally friendly peat management techniques. In addition, the subjects of mathematics, science and Bahasa Indonesia will be integrated with peat education and learning equipped with props.

This PLTB program is part of PT CPI's social investment programs in environmental category. In the first phase of last year, the community began to successfully apply the implications of PLTB to their peatlands. A total of nearly three tons of cucumbers were successfully harvested at a joint harvest event in Kepenghuluan Bangko Sakti, Bangko District. The crops are planted in peatlands that previously people were reluctant to work on the land because they do not have techniques that make peatland become a productive land.

Other environmental programs include Sumatran Elephant Rescue; Waste Bank Program in Pekanbaru, Bengkalis, and Siak in collaboration with Lancang Kuning University; and Mangrove Conservation with Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN).