Inspire Appreciation and Protection of Forests Through a Staff Educational Trip

Since 2020, MSIG Asia has partnered with Conservation International Asia-Pacific (CIAP) to protect and conserve biodiversity as part of the company's commitment to safeguarding the planet's future. Biodiversity is the wealth of life on earth, and protecting it is fundamental to ensuring that people and nature can thrive. As a source of clean water, food, medicines, mental health benefits, and climate regulators, biodiversity also underpins livelihoods and economies.

For more than 15 years, CIAP has been working with communities to support the restoration and protection of these invaluable natural resources. The partnership will help create an enabling environment to deliver conservation education, livelihood improvement programs, and sustainable tourism. Initiative that always includes extensive research to understand the biodiversity of the region.

In Indonesia, MSIG collaborates with CIAP through CIAP’s in-country main partner, Konservasi Indonesia (KI), to assist a project in West Java called Green Wall. This program is to support the Balai Besar TNGGP, local government, communities, local institutions, and private company stakeholders, who have provided funding support for the program since its inception.

With the support of KI, MSIG Indonesia staff had the opportunity to explore and appreciate the lush forest landscape of West Java through guided tours and hands-on learning activities at the Green Wall Project in West Java. The project was initiated in 2008 to encourage the development of forest conditions in the Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park (TNGGP) Expansion Area.

Bonaventura N. Ardi, MSIG Indonesia representative, stated, "The MSIG Indonesia Biodiversity Staff Education Trip activities are to increase awareness and appreciation for the environment, develop environmentally friendly habits and lifestyles, build personal and team skills to be able to collaborate well, and of course be an inspiration for participants to be able to take actions that have a positive impact on the environment and others".

In this valuable opportunity, participants were invited to discuss conservation, interact with local staff and community members, and visit alternative livelihood programs in the village. They were invited to engage in volunteer activities in the field and observe the diversity of vegetation, birds, and mammals in the forest in the hope that they could learn about and appreciate the precious biodiversity.

Doni Setyo Utomo, an employee of MSIG Indonesia, said, "As participants in this event, we learned about how we can protect the environment and become role models for others, especially the communities around us, about participating in protecting and preserving the environment for the lives of humans and nature".