In carrying out its operations, PT ANTAM Tbk (ANTAM), a member of PT Mineral Industri Indonesia (Persero) (MIND ID) – the State-Owned Enterprise Holding of the Mining Industry, strives to implement good mining practice (GMP). GMP implementation is also carried out by ANTAM through the North Maluku Nickel Mining Business Unit, from mining to post-mining activities, to minimize the impact of operations carried out through environmental management, rehabilitation, and monitoring. ANTAM, through the North Maluku Nickel Mining Business Unit, also constantly provides benefits to the society and communities around the operational area.
One of the environmental management efforts carried out by ANTAM in the North Maluku Nickel Mining Business Unit area is through biodiversity conservation initiatives on marine and terrestrial to realize the Company's commitment to preserving biodiversity. Environmental monitoring is carried out regularly at the North Maluku Nickel Mining Business Unit, including one monitoring of biota, both on land and at sea.
General Manager of ANTAM's North Maluku Nickel Mining Business Unit, Ery Budiman, said that monitoring activities for marine and terrestrial biota at the North Maluku Nickel Mining Business Unit had been carried out since 2012 - 2022. "In 2022, We continue the monitoring activities on marine and terrestrial biota as a continuation of monitoring activities will be carried out since October 2012 to May 2022," he said.
Ery explained monitoring of marine biota conducted in 2022 showed that the bottom cover of coral reefs in the four study locations was dominated by living, abiotic (sand and coral rubble) components, and dead coral that had grown algae (Dead Coral with Algae/ DCA). "Observing coral species along the transect at 17 stations in 4 locations, such as Gee Island, Pakal Island, Moronopo, and Tanjung Buli, found 139 types of hard corals (hard coral: Scleractinia) and 6 types of soft corals (soft coral)," he added.
The relatively good condition of the coral had an impact on the diversity and abundance of reef fish species found at the 17 coral reef stations in the 4 locations. Ery explained that as many as 104 reef fish from 19 families and 48 genera were found around the North Maluku Nickel Mining Business Unit marine conservation area. The abundance and diversity of coral fish species varies between 2,960 and 18,840 fish/ha, with the number of species between 9 – 33 species. The highest diversity of reef fish was found on islands such as Gee Island (GI and GIII Stations) and Pakal Island (PI and PIV Stations).
Apart from carrying out marine conservation efforts, ANTAM through the North Maluku Nickel Mining Business Unit, also conducts conservation activities in land/terrestrial areas around the Company's operational areas. Based on the results of observations of flora in 2022 carried out in the North Maluku Nickel Mining Business Unit area, a total of 190 plant species were recorded spread across various observation stations. All recorded plant types come from 78 tribes (families), including 95 species of lowland and hill forests, 29 types of coastal plants, seven types of mangroves, 21 types of ferns, 8 types of palms, 3 types of Pitcher Plants, two species of Orchids, 3 Epiphytic species, 5 types of Liana, 6 types of grass, 4 types of greenery plants and 4 types of cultivated plants.
Ery said of the 190 plant species recorded in terrestrial conservation areas, 4 of them are protected by law based on Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. P.106 of 2018, namely the typical Maluku palm Pigafetta Filaris, and three species Pitcher Plants, Nepenthes Halmahera, Nepenthes Mirabilis and Nepenthes Weda are not included in the attachment to the law. However, most Pitcher Plants species in Indonesia are protected flora types.
"Pitcher Plants is also included in Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Appendix II, which requires a special permit to trade (cultivated flora). Other types included in the CITES Appendix II category are Alsophila (Cyathea) glauca, Orchidaceae, Diospyros spp., Gonystylus spp, and Cycas Circinalis. "Meanwhile, the Haji Fern (Cycas circinalis) has endangered status because its population is decreasing in nature," he added.
In terrestrial conservation efforts, various birds were also found around the Company's operational areas. "It was observed that 87 species of birds from 40 tribes were found in the North Maluku Nickel UBP area during 19 surveys from November 2012-December 2022," said Ery.
Ery added that from the results of bird monitoring carried out in December 2022, 39 species of birds from 27 tribes were found. "The monitoring results this time are not much different from the previous monitoring results, which reached 42 birds species from 28 tribes. The number of bird species found in each monitoring period fluctuates between 20-43 birds species with an average of 35 species per monitoring period," he added.
Bird species in the operating area of ANTAM North Maluku Nickel Mining Business Unit
Source: Biodiversity Monitoring Report 2022
Ten endemic bird species to North Maluku were found in the 2022 survey, including Pergam Boke, Gray-Head Guardian, Blue-Halik Guardian, White Cockatoo, Blue-and-white Checkakakak, Halmahera Kapasan, Halmahera Golden Brinji, Halmahera Golden Brinji, Halmahera Crow, and Paok Halmahera. Based on the Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry No. P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018 or P.106/2018, the ten birds species found in the survey conducted in December 2022, including species protected by law, such as Bondol Eagle, Alap-alap Cattle, Gosong Kelam (Maleo), White Cockatoo, Parrot Bayan, Red-cheeked Lorike, Papuan Julang, Cendrawasih Crow, Halmahera Crow and Halmahera Paok.
"Based on the results of monitoring conducted by the Company, it can be seen that the environment in the operational area of the North Maluku Nickel Mining Business Unit is still in good condition and can still support wildlife, especially birds, both resident bird species, endemic birds, birds protected by law and migratory birds," concluded Ery.
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