Photo: A bird’s eye view of Aiwat Village, one of the settlements along the banks of the Digoel River

BOVEN DIGOEL – PT Berkat Cipta Abadi (BCA)’s support for local communities extends to the villages along the Digoel River. Sago grating machines, rubber tapping and rolling equipment, and cool boxes for storing fish catches are some of the donations that have been distributed to Aiwat and Subur, which sit inside the Boven Digoel territory.

As economic empowerment tools, these meet the needs of riverine settlements, whose livelihoods largely depend on forest and river products.

Much attention is also given by the company to the village infrastructure, which now features a water pump to complement a previously installed well. Two fiber boats with 40-horsepower Yamaha engines have also been provided for transportation and remain in use in Aiwat and Subur.

To support local religious and education systems, BCA has established a church building for Aiwat’s Catholic residents, in addition to supplying teaching and learning aids. Furthermore, the company continues to send materials to support village development projects.

On the health front, BCA rolls out free mobile medical services, offering a solution for those struggling to access care in remote areas.

All this assistance is expected to benefit locals in the long term, said company representative Petrus Boryemu.

“Over the years, BCA has been helping the Digoel River communities in Subur District in various ways. We’ve built public facilities, improved access to clean water, and launched multiple initiatives to support local livelihoods. We want to make everyday life easier for the people, so they can boost the economy,” Boryemu said at his residence on Wednesday (11/4/2026).

Photo: (Left) Two fiber boats with 40-horsepower Yamaha engines are given to the Aiwat and Subur communities (Right) BCA’s rubber rolling machine donation

Kaitanus Tinggi, an Aiwat official, couldn’t help feeling grateful. BCA’s presence has brought positive changes to day-to-day life in the village.

“BCA’s support has been significant for our community,” Tinggi said.

Through its Corporate Social Contribution (CSC) programs, BCA strives to create impact in Aiwat and Subur. These initiatives not only help cover daily needs but also open opportunities for better living standards and lasting self-sufficiency. (PR)

Photo: Greater birds-of-paradise (Paradisaea apoda, Linnaeus, 1758) (Taken by Marcellia/ Pacific Conservation Biology Journal)

BOVEN DIGOEL – Tunas Sawa Erma (TSE) Group continues to expand conservation initiatives in Papua through the Papua Conservation program developed with IPB University. One of their works is a study on the distribution and condition of habitat for greater birds-of-paradise in the forests of Boven Digoel Regency, South Papua.

The research team identified roughly 79,901 hectares of habitable land, which make up 12% of the observation site (678,313 hectares). Of this figure, 47,673 hectares (or 60%) are part of PT Tunas Timber Lestari and PT Inocin Abadi’s concession areas. Both companies fall under the Korindo Group umbrella.

This study was published as “Habitat Suitability and Lekking Habitat Use of the Greater Bird-of-Paradise (Paradisaea apoda) in Human-Modified Landscapes of Papua” in an international journal on October 30, 2026. It was authored by six researchers from the Faculty of Forestry and Environment at IPB University — Lilik Budi Prasetyo, Aryo Adhi Condro, Azwar Azmillah Sujaswara, Ani Mardiastuti, Yeni Aryati Mulyani, and Arif Kurnia Wijayanto — under a partnership with TSE Group.

Photo: The site chosen for habitat suitability research. It’s part of PT Tunas Timber Lestari and PT Inocin Abadi’s concession areas in South Papua Province, Indonesia. Road network © contributors of OpenStreetMap, available under the license of Open Database License (ODbL)

Data collection spanned from 2022 to 2023, during which the research team observed the birds firsthand, listened for calls, and located trees used for breeding. Over the two-year period, they recorded 59 encounters.

The team worked closely with local field guides and other members of local communities who are familiar with the observation site. Beyond the forests, these partners possess knowledge of the species’ whereabouts.

From the findings, TSE Group obtained key information to help identify the habitats in its operational locations and understand their current conditions.

One notable discovery is the places greater birds-of-paradise flock to — and how environmental conditions differ between where they do daily activities and where they procreate. Breeding individuals are more drawn to intact forest patches marked by tall, lush canopies and minimal human interference, but generally, the birds can be found even in moderately disturbed areas.

This finding may have to do with their mating ritual, where displays by male birds take place on trees designated as mating sites.

The study noted that trees in the preserved ecosystems have an average height of 31.59 meters, compared with those in more-modified landscapes, or where non-mating activities occur (29.01 meters). The former also tends to be densely packed.

Researchers emphasized that although occurrences of greater birds-of-paradise were recorded in moderately disturbed environments, this doesn’t mean all forest conditions support their reproduction. Habitats with tall trees, a diverse canopy structure, and lower levels of anthropogenic disturbance remain vital in this process.

Yet, production forests are still integral to wildlife conservation. By retaining mature trees and forest cover, they provide a place to live for the greater birds-of-paradise. This is bearing in mind that such landscapes don’t fully replace the functions of natural forests, particularly as breeding grounds.

To support protection efforts, researchers recommended creating a minimum buffer of 250 meters around mating trees. This method aims to minimize human-induced disturbances during breeding and in general.

Other important measures include safeguarding natural forest patches and emergent trees, as well as connecting fragmented habitats. Reforestation using native Papuan species is also encouraged to help restore forest conditions.

In this way, the study marked another milestone in TSE Group and IPB University’s Papua Conservation partnership. Aside from supplying information on habitat locations and conditions, it helps the company recognize which concession areas are in need of greater attention for wildlife conservation.

Its results are expected to inform TSE Group’s forest management strategies going forward, especially those related to wildlife habitat and environmental sustainability. Through collaborations with the academic community, the company promotes initiatives that balance business operations and biodiversity preservation in Papua. (PR)

Foto: Kigorun students having fun in class. The school was built by PT Berkat Cipta Abadi (BCA) to support the expansion of access to basic education for local and employees’ children

MERAUKE – PT Berkat Cipta Abadi (BCA) shows support for education in South Papua through Kigorun Public Elementary (SDN Kigorun), a school it built in 2024 to expand access to primary learning for local and employees’ children.

The facility comes with fully furnished classrooms, a faculty room, a toilet, a school bus, and learning tools to ease learning activities.

Teaching staff is provided by Merauke Regency’s Department of Education, which also assigns the school’s administrator and covers monthly honoraria for several teachers.

Kigorun’s construction — and the aid it receives — reflects BCA’s focus on creating real benefits through improved access to education, said TSE Group’s General Manager Daniel Sim Ayomi.

“All the things we do reflect our commitment to delivering direct impact to our immediate communities,” Ayomi said on Monday (10/19/2026).

Kigorun principal Akhmad Khanifan thanked the company for supporting the school’s development and operational continuity. “BCA is helping the education system in South Papua in the long term.”

Photo: (left) An aerial view of the school building in South Papua, along with its school bus facility (right) Students share a moment with teachers and BCA representatives

Kigorun’s presence is expected to improve access to basic education and learning environments for local students. The school is part of BCA’s efforts to promote equitable development of learning infrastructure across rural South Papua.

Other educational initiatives include the Social Education program, which is run regularly by all TSE Group subsidiaries. This interactive program consists of short educational sessions covering general topics with prize games.

The goal is to boost learning motivation, expand knowledge, and make learning enjoyable. Through this and school construction projects, TSE Group strives to provide lasting benefits and opportunities for a better future for young South Papuans. (PR)

Photo: Ensuring firefighting readiness is part of TSE Group’s initiatives to prevent the increase in fire risks from extreme drought in South Papua

BOVEN DIGOEL – After more than four months of El Niño, South Papua has now been left vulnerable to extreme drought of unprecedented scale in a decade.

Strong winds and parched vegetation have upended the ecological balance, putting the region on red alert for wildfire risks.

This situation has pushed TSE Group to strengthen fire prevention measures since the start of the dry season last May. Its sustainability and human resources teams, along with an internal OSH committee (P2K3), have been working together to inform employees and local communities about fire-related regulations and actions to prevent fire incidents.

The company’s firefighting personnel and equipment have also been on standby around the clock.

“Our firefighting team is doing 24-hour patrols in HGU areas to ensure potential fires are immediately detected, and [if they have] spread, [they] can be contained. Recently, fire spots outside our HGU areas spread into plantation grounds. We quickly took action to keep them from expanding,” said Arnol Tahir, the assistant manager of TSE Group’s firefighting team.

In doing this, they prioritized their commitment to people’s safety. Ground personnel and fire vehicles were swiftly deployed to extinguish fires approaching nearby settlements outside concession boundaries.

“The company’s firefighting team has been a great help. They’re always ready, arriving early [to put out] fires before they get bigger. Had it not been for their action, the fires might have increased in scale and harmed residents,” said Jhon Doi, a member of Naga Village (Jair District, Boven Digoel) who lives near the Trans-Papua Highway.

Despite this, TSE Group’s capabilities are limited — the company can only do so much amid the severe conditions. Given these circumstances, its management is calling for collaborations with local governments and government agencies. TSE Group is also encouraging everyone to monitor mitigation initiatives and quell baseless speculation while focusing on safety and environmental sustainability in South Papua. (PR)

Photo: A snapshot of a greater bird-of-paradise (Paradisaea apoda) taken by the IPB University research team. This species eats fruits as part of its diet, making fruit-bearing trees vital to its habitat

SOUTH PAPUA – The survival of greater birds-of-paradise (Paradisaea apoda) is tied to their habitat — one which offers a plethora of food options like wild fruits, nectar, seeds, arthropods, and small animals.

Among these options, fruits are considered a key food source for the species. This prompted IPB University and TSE Group to delve into a research on fruit-bearing trees, specifically the kinds used by the local greater birds-of-paradise population.

Their efforts have culminated in an internationally published study titled “Fruiting Tree Used by Greater Bird-of-Paradise (Paradisaea apoda) in Logging Concession in South Papua”. Dr. Yeni Aryati Mulyani, Prof. Ani Mardiastuti, and a team of researchers from IPB University successfully identified six tree species that are vital for sustenance in TSE Group’s concession areas.

“Two of them — Myristica insipida and Oncosperma tigillarium — were identified through direct observation, while the other four — Calophyllum soulattri, Ficus obliqua, Myristica fatua, and Syzygium sp. — were identified based on indirect evidence,” the study stated.

All generally appear in clusters and possess structural features supporting foraging activities, such as dense crowns and extensive branching.

They are important to support the greater birds-of-paradise, which must adapt to the seasonal nature of fruits. With a wide variety of trees, the birds have plenty of food sources to choose from based on their needs and food availability.

Yet, the study notes a complicated relationship between this need for diversity and TSE Group’s vegetation management practices. Calophyllum soulattri and Myristica fatua, two of the aforementioned tree species, are classified as commercial timber.

Understanding food trees thus becomes crucial to preserve the habitat of local greater birds-of-paradise. But there’s not enough data — most of the study’s records are indirect evidence, which calls for further research and monitoring to corroborate the findings.

Nonetheless, the IPB University team recommends maintaining vegetation heterogeneity and habitat structure with a focus on riparian zones. These areas are known as major foraging hotspots for Paradisaea apoda.

In the process, long-term monitoring will be integral to establishing the effects of vegetation changes driven by concession management activities on the distribution patterns of the food trees.

Overall, IPB University and TSE Group’s work not only sheds light on these six species; it also lays the basis for understanding how food source availability, habitat structure, and forest area management connect.

For TSE Group, the study’s findings will inform its wildlife habitat management practices. Through vegetation diversity preservation and consistent monitoring, the company hopes to ensure habitat availability and the continuity of life for greater birds-of-paradise in South Papua. (PR)

Photo: Louis Maikuin stands on behalf of the local clan at the symbolic student shelter handover ceremony led by company representatives Hassanudin Pattiroy and Daniel Sim Ayomi

MERAUKE – For Indonesia’s border communities, ensuring proper access to education still feels like a huge challenge. This sentiment resonates with Mutimangge Village in Ulilin District (Merauke Regency), whose school-going children must brave the river and long roads to reach Camp PAL Public Elementary (SDN Camp PAL) in PT Papua Agro Lestari’s area.

And their journey doesn’t end at the school gates. Students have to make the same trip back home, which often leaves them exhausted and unable to keep up with lessons.

As a solution, TSE Group company PT Papua Agro Lestari (PAL) has come up with a “student shelter” — a support facility for those commuting from and to villages across its operational location.

The 135-square-meter permanent building contains two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom for the children to use before returning to their own homes.

Its inauguration on Saturday (10/3/2026) was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a symbolic key handover from PAL representatives to Louis Maikuin on behalf of the local clan and community in Mutimangge. PAL’s management and members of the village were present to watch both ceremonies.

Photo: The facility by PT Papua Agro Lestari (PAL) serves to support school-going children across its operational location

“For people in Mutimangge and surrounding villages, this shelter not only eases the physical strain [of traveling], but also gives students new hope. It [will be] really useful to us,” said Maikuin, expressing his gratitude.

PAL’s Manager Hassanudin Pattiroy hoped the facility funded under the company’s Corporate Social Contribution (CSC) program would be used and maintained well.

“We hope this shelter will be maintained properly. We built this facility to show support for border communities on behalf of the private sector,” said Pattiroy. “We also want to help Ulilin children reach a brighter future without having to sacrifice so much of their time and energy on travel.”

PAL’s initiative is expected to expand the access to education and make learning easier. This will give local students better opportunities to develop their potential and achieve their goals. (PR)

Photo: By helping young Papuans access BPDP’s scholarship program, TSE Group demonstrates its commitment to building capable individuals

BOVEN DIGOEL – Two South Papuan locals, Cosmas Kinema and Yulius Mambi, have made the cut for BPDP’s scholarship program this year. This means they are able to pursue higher education at the Yogyakarta Agricultural Community Academy (AKPY-STIPER).

Kinema was accepted into the Oil Palm Maintenance program, while Mambi was admitted to the Oil Palm Processing program. AKPY-STIPER focuses on plantation development, specifically that of oil palm plantations.

In their journey, they have been accompanied by Tunas Sawa Erma (TSE) Group, which through Corporate Social Contribution (CSC) also provided full accommodation and essentials needed for their move to Yogyakarta. This initiative will continue throughout the study.

“I’m really grateful. I never imagined I’d get this kind of opportunity,” said Kinema on Thursday (10/1/2026). “Thank you, TSE Group, for making the journey easier from the very beginning, and thank you as well to BPDP for the full scholarship. After I graduate, I hope to contribute to my hometown through better, more sustainable oil palm management.”

Prior to the selection process, the company had stepped forward to ensure the students — both members of the local clans — were prepared. Efforts spanned from offering moral support, conducting computer training, to providing college and dorm supplies once Kinema and Mambi passed. This work forms part of broader efforts to help scholarship awardees at TSE Group’s locations adapt to their new environment and excel in their studies.

Photo: Two boys from South Papua, Cosmas Kinema and Yulius Mambi, were this year’s lucky recipients.

“We’ve always been supporting children of local clans in their pursuit of college,” said Daniel Sim Ayomi, TSE Group’s General Manager. “We hope that through this partnership with the Directorate General of Plantations at the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, these children can get proper education and be ready for employment.”

By helping young Papuans access the SDM Sawit program, the palm oil company demonstrates its commitment to building capable individuals. SDM Sawit, short for Beasiswa Pengembangan Sumber Daya Manusia Perkebunan Kelapa Sawit (Oil Palm Plantation Manpower Development Scholarship), is run by BPDP, or the Indonesian Plantations Fund.

It fully funds students whose parents are oil palm farmers or have other livelihoods tied to the palm oil sector. SDM Sawit applies to academic programs ranging from one-year diplomas (D1) to bachelor’s degrees (S1) in oil palm plantation operations.

Besides Kinema and Mambi, other children have also benefited from TSE Group’s assistance, albeit for different scholarship schemes. Some of them are now graduates, and even work at companies including TSE Group — proving the company’s continuous support and tangible impact on communities.

The synergy between the private sector, the government, and fund management institutions is expected to create more changemakers from South Papua with the skills and readiness to drive regional development in a sustainable oil palm plantation sector. (PR)

Photo: TSE Group’s Director Luwy Leunufna (second from the left) and Cenderawasih University’s Vice-Rector IV for Collaboration Dr. Basir Rohrohmana (third from the right) sign a MoU that kicks off a research and community empowerment partnership

JAYAPURA – Papua is home to a wide range of Indigenous traditions, languages, and knowledge that hold value for its people. According to the book “Tradisi & Kebudayaan Nusantara” (Traditions & Cultures of the Archipelago), the province is divided into seven customary regions based on the tribes inhabiting them — which add up to a total of 255.

This rich cultural diversity has led PT Tunas Sawa Erma from TSE Group to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Cenderawasih University on Wednesday (9/30/2026) in Jayapura.

Both parties are to embark on community service and empowerment projects that will include an ethnographic study on the social, cultural, and linguistic aspects of the company’s immediate communities. The collaboration will also focus on student internships and research centered upon anthropology.

As a higher education institution, Cenderawasih University will play a vital role through its education, research, and community service functions. With its academic capacity and understanding of the local context, it will provide valuable support for sociocultural research and studies that TSE Group may need.

“By working with Cenderawasih University, PT Tunas Sawa Erma demonstrates its commitment to promoting manpower development and community empowerment in Papua through ongoing research programs, college internships, and community service initiatives,” said Luwy Leunufna, PT Tunas Sawa Erma and TSE Group’s director.

Dr. Basir Rohrohmana, Vice-Rector IV for Collaboration at Cenderawasih University, welcomed the partnership with TSE Group, which he said would help strengthen academic contributions to community well-being.

“[I see] this collaboration with Tunas Sawa Erma Group as part of efforts to cement the roles of academia as educators, researchers, and community service providers, which improve lives across Papua.”

Both TSE Group and Cenderawasih University aim to build long-term cooperation between the private and academic sectors, especially in terms of social and cultural research publication. TSE Group hopes the works can inform its process of creating community programs to better align with local conditions and priorities.

This partnership was brought on by TSE Group’s commitment as a palm oil company to implementing “No Deforestation, No Peat, No Exploitation” principles — and improving recovery plans for affected communities by better understanding their social and cultural conditions. (PR)

Photo: PT Gelora Mandiri Membangun shows support for local communities by donating 2,000 milk cartons through three puskesmases (state-run community health centers)

SOUTH HALMAHERA – PT Gelora Mandiri Membangun (GMM) donated 2,000 packaged milk cartons to local communities through three local puskesmases (state-run community health centers) on Wednesday (9/30/2026). This initiative reflected support for people served by the facilities.

Distribution took place in the districts of South West Gane, South East Gane, and Joronga Islands, where these puskesmases are located. Together, they serve a total of eight villages.

This way, GMM could expand the reach of its aid to settlements within the service areas. The milk cartons were later given to beneficiary households to be used as needed.

Getting involved in social initiatives is one way the company works toward better relationships with immediate communities, said Director Jibae Park.

“We want to cultivate strong partnerships with the governments and healthcare providers in the places where we operate. We hope these donations are used well and help the families receiving them,” Park added.

South Halmahera Regent, Hasan Ali Bassam Kasuba, praised GMM for its assistance with many community-impacting activities.

Photo: South Halmahera Regent Hasan Ali Bassam Kasuba presents the donation to representatives of the puskesmases in a symbolic ceremony

Corporate participation in these activities contributes to shared efforts to strengthen community service and empowerment programs, he explained.

“Multi-stakeholder support is needed to improve prosperity for everyone. By participating, companies like GMM join a shared commitment to helping communities [thrive].”

This distribution is part of a broader collaboration between GMM and nearby medical facilities. With service coverage spanning eight villages, these puskesmases play a key part in ensuring support reaches residents of South West Gane, South East Gane, and Joronga Islands.

GMM hopes its initiative can provide immediate benefits to recipients and strengthen its bond with the local governments, health service providers, and people. (*)

Photo: PT Dongin Prabhawa runs environmental awareness campaigns in nearby villages as part of its Corporate Social Contribution (CSC) programs for local communities

MERAUKE – The word “palm oil companies” may call to mind swaths of oil palm blocks or humming mills. But for PT Dongin Prabhawa (DP), it means sustainability — in plantations, post-harvest management, and business growth to align with community well-being and environmental integrity.

This last point was the impetus behind Corporate Social Contribution (CSC), which DP also launched to meet its obligations.

From time to time, the company’s team visits nearby villages like Banamepe, Salamepe, Tagaepe, and Nakias — parts of Ngguti District (Merauke) and Edera District (Mappi) — to provide educational, health, infrastructure, financial, and environmental support.

Part of this is a beloved health outreach program that lets DP’s clinic screen and treat locals where they are for free.

It’s an initiative that brings health information to communities along with medicine supplies and blood pressure monitors. Beyond care, participants receive education on clean and healthy habits, enabling them to remain healthy without medical intervention.

On top of that are sessions promoting natural heritage and wildlife preservation. They send a simple message: protect the environment, protect the people.

“DP’s dedicated service and CSC support have left a deep impression on us. It means a lot to have health professionals here with us to especially safeguard community health and educate our residents on healthy lifestyle choices,” said Ecky Blamen, who represents the Nakias Village community.

Connecting, Not Just Giving

The company reimagines health outreach as a way to forge connections with the people it serves, instead of a mere obligation.

Once these are established, they open doors to mutual discovery, further interaction, and, eventually, stronger relationships, said DP’s manager, Mr. Yunjae Cha.

Photo: DP’s clinic team comes down to villages to provide free health services, including screening

“Our goal with this program is to connect, build a bond with the people,” Mr. Cha said on Monday (9/21/2026).

Maintaining ties is especially important to DP’s journey, as the company strives to grow alongside its immediate communities and ecosystems.

PT Dongin Prabhawa is a subsidiary of Tunas Sawa Erma Group, a palm oil company known for its compliance with the “No Deforestation, No Peat, and No Exploitation” (NDPE) policy. Its social initiatives demonstrate that profitability can go hand in hand with business practices that are responsible toward the local society and the environment. (PR)