PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (Telkom) continues to strive to increase collaboration and involvement of communities and the younger generation in various environmental conservation initiatives. One such initiative is the Bumi Berseru Fest program, which presents community-based solutions to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem sustainability, including proboscis monkey conservation initiatives and mangrove planting in Tarakan City, North Kalimantan.
Hery Susanto, Telkom's Senior General Manager of Social Responsibility, stated that collaboration with communities is a crucial element in sustainable and solution-oriented environmental conservation efforts. "Efforts to preserve the environment require the involvement of various parties, including young people with high levels of concern and innovative ideas. Through the Bumi Berseru Fest program, Telkom strives to create a collaborative space for communities to present real solutions to preserve the ecosystem, while simultaneously raising public awareness of the importance of environmental conservation," said Hery.
One initiative born from the Bumi Berseru Fest 2025 program is being run by the Association of Youth for Sustainability (AYS) Indonesia in Tarakan City, North Kalimantan. Out of concern for the increasingly threatened condition of the mangrove ecosystem due to land conversion, habitat destruction, and low public awareness, this community initiated a conservation program aimed at protecting the proboscis monkey, an endemic species of Kalimantan, while maintaining the balance of the coastal ecosystem.
Through an integrated approach, this program implemented several strategic steps. From December 19–21, 2025, the AYS team, along with TelkomGroup volunteers, built a Feeding Spot Center, a dedicated area for providing supplementary vitamins in the form of bananas to proboscis monkeys and providing an educational resource for tourists to learn about these animals without disturbing their natural habitat. Furthermore, on January 24, 2026, AYS and volunteers planted 1,000 mangrove seedlings in Edu Park Kampung Empat as an effort to strengthen the coastal green belt and mitigate habitat destruction.
In addition to conservation efforts, this program also incorporates a scientific approach through ecosystem monitoring activities. During observations conducted on January 7, 2026, the team successfully identified 40 proboscis monkeys and mapped 27 mangrove species in the area. Findings from feeding spots also demonstrated the unique behavior of proboscis monkeys, which tend to be individualistic but will form groups when faced with threats. This data was then used to develop an educational website that serves as a digital database for the public and supports the strengthening of conservation programs by local governments.
AYS Indonesia Founder M. Abrar Putra Siregar expressed his appreciation for Telkom's support through the Bumi Berseru Fest program. "We truly appreciate Telkom because only a handful of parties are paying significant attention to this issue. The BBF program is very effective and strategic because it involves local communities who understand environmental conditions on the ground," he said.
This conservation initiative aligns with Telkom's Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) implementation through the GoZero – Sustainability Action by Telkom Indonesia program, specifically the Environment, Save Our Planet pillar, which focuses on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection. Furthermore, this effort also supports the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 14 on Life Below Water and Goal 15 on Life on Land.
Going forward, mangrove rehabilitation in North Kalimantan is expected to be further expanded to mitigate increasing coastal erosion. Through collaboration between communities, society, and various stakeholders, this local initiative is expected to grow into a broader conservation movement to maintain the balance of coastal ecosystems for future generations.
The Bumi Berseru Fest 2025 program itself is an environmental innovation competition that encourages the community to present sustainable solutions. This year, the competition covers various innovation categories, including Eco Products and Green Technology, and provides funding and mentoring support for the best ideas that have a real impact on the environment and society.
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