APP Group and a consortium of conservation organizations have reached an early milestone in PROTECT30, an initiative dedicated to conserving forests, protecting biodiversity, and strengthening community resilience in Sumatra.
The multi-year project focuses on the Bukit Tigapuluh region across parts of Jambi and Riau provinces. Launched in February 2026, the program covers approximately 400,000 hectares, equivalent to about 988,000 acres of forests and community villages.
As part of its initial on-the-ground actions, the consortium planted a 17-hectare, or 42-acre, forage area with local fruit trees. Species such as jackfruit and cempedak were selected to boost food availability and improve habitat connectivity for the critically endangered elephant population.
Bukit Tigapuluh stands as one of the island's last large natural forest areas. The region supports roughly 10% of the Sumatran elephant population, along with a substantial share of wild Sumatran tigers and orangutans at reintroduction sites.
Beyond wildlife, the forest supports communities whose cultural identity and livelihoods are closely tied to the land. The consortium works alongside local agencies, including the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), the Jambi Provincial Forestry Service (DISHUT), and the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park Office (BTNBT).
Participating organizations aim to establish governance structures and shared methodologies to support long-term ecosystem health. These efforts also align with requirements set by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Remedy Framework.
“Lasting success depends on businesses, conservation organizations, government agencies, and local communities staying committed to the work together,” said Elim Sritaba, Chief Sustainability Officer of APP Group.
“By putting strong foundations in place now – shared governance, agreed methods, and trust on the ground, we’ll transform a conservation and restoration program into holistic, long-term sustainability across an entire landscape,” Sritaba added.
The consortium includes Proforest, WWF-Indonesia, and KKI WARSI. Taufiq Alimi, Executive Director, Proforest Southeast Asia, noted the collaborative nature of the platform.
“PROTECT30 was established as a long-term collaborative platform that integrates habitat conservation, landscape connectivity, and community livelihoods. By fostering partnerships among governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector, we aim to ensure that interventions are both ecologically and socially relevant, while contributing to the sustainable management of landscapes,” said Taufiq Alimi, Executive Director, Proforest Southeast Asia.
The initiative forms part of APP’s broader environmental commitments. In September 2025, the company launched Regenesis, a platform backed by $30 million annually to support forest restoration and community resilience.
That platform focuses first on conserving and restoring one million hectares of critical ecosystems.
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