|
Biodiversity/Environmental Education |
| Biodiversity - Lorentz National Park |
Extensive botanical and taxonomy surveys within the PT Freeport Indonesia project area (from Coastal to Nival Zones) were also carried out over a six-year period by staff from the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, England in conjunction with assistance from Indonesian institutions. More than 5,000 flowering and fruiting plant species were identified and prepared for herbariums.
Posters of the vegetation zones and taxonomy of the plants were produced and numerous scientific publications in peer review journals have resulted from these studies.
From the scientific point of view, PT Freeport Indonesia's biodiversity programs have significantly contributed to the knowledge of natural science in Papua through the discovery of new species, reference collections, and the publication of papers, books and posters. PT Freeport Indonesia has published books in its biodiversity series including: "The Freshwater Fish of the Timika Region, New Guinea" and "The Butterflies of Mimika."
PT Freeport Indonesia has no operations in Lorentz National Park. Our operations are part of a different river system to the west of Lorentz National Park and were separated from the nature preserve at the time of its creation and delineation of its boundaries. The numerous biodiversity studies we have supported have done a great deal to document the rich biodiversity in Lorentz National Park and the surrounding area.
for Young Environmentalists
While our operations impact only a very small portion of Papua, we have made a strong commitment to manage our work in a way that minimizes our impacts, and to revegetate or reclaim impacted areas once operations are complete there. Fulfilling this commitment entails a great deal of environmental study, management and monitoring. In 2004 alone, our environmental programs cost $29.2 million.
This means that we employ many environmental scientists on staff or as consultants. Because of that - and because of the unique variety of ecosystems - PT Freeport Indonesia's operations have become a destination of choice for many budding young environmental scientists.
"This area is a huge laboratory for environmental studies and technology, and we have become a breeding ground for young environmental scientists," said Dr. Rusdian Lubis, PT Freeport Indonesia's Senior Vice President for Environment, Safety and Health.
Some of these youngsters are encouraged by PT Freeport Indonesia scholarships, such as Arika Chandrasari Triwandono, now a chemical engineering junior at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana. During the summer of 2004, she worked as in intern in PT Freeport Indonesia's certified Environmental Lab, which conducts tens of thousands of environmental analyses annually.
Having only completed her sophomore year at the time, "At first I was intimidated," Arika recalled. But her supervisors provided mentoring, showing her how to apply in real life what she had learned in the classroom. She also learned a great deal about teamwork and leadership.
"Previously, I had some hesitation about the environmental field," she said. "But after the internship, I know that environmental science is my life's ambition." The confidence she gained from her internship has inspired her to want to tackle tough issues in order to help her country. "My ambition is to reduce air pollution in Jakarta," she said.
|
|
| Djemianus "Jemie" Rumainum |
"Applying new knowledge and technology in my daily work makes it easier for me to enjoy my job," he said. He appreciates the company's commitment to manage and minimize its environmental impacts, and will work as an employee to keep that commitment strong. And as a Papuan, Jemie is grateful for the opportunities PT Freeport Indonesia has provided him and other Papuans and hopes the commitment to Papuan development will continue.
By fulfilling its commitments to provide sound management of environmental impacts and opportunities for Papuans to develop skills and education, Jemie said, PT Freeport Indonesia "contributes benefits to the Mimika Regency, Papua and Indonesia."
Some of the young environmentalists coming to work at PT Freeport Indonesia arrive expecting the worst. "I was convinced that PT Freeport Indonesia was a giant company doing damage to the environment," said Roberth Wellem Sarwom, a Papuan agricultural engineering student who studied at the University of Papua.
Nevertheless, Roberth won a PT Freeport Indonesia scholarship and went to work for the company after graduation "to prove to myself whether Freeport was damaging the environment or not." He said he took a careful, hard look at the company's environmental management during his first years at work and "came to the conclusion that what had been propagandized was extremely untrue. This company has a great commitment to the environment and to the community. I feel proud to work here and consider it an honor."
Roberth is now responsible for the important task of managing planting activities in the tailings reclamation area. "I am lucky, because I am working in a field closely related to my educational background and my knowledge about vegetation expands every day," he said.
"These young environmental scientists don't give up their ideals by coming here to work for a mining company," said Dr. Lubis. "They get inside the organization and work to achieve those ideals. This is rewarding for them and helpful for us."
 |
|
| Arika Triwandono | Roberth Sarwom |
