RRI.CO.ID, Banjarnegara - Coinciding with Earth Day, commemorated every April 22, PT PLN Indonesia Power UBP Mrica Banjarnegara planted 20,000 coffee trees in Pegundungan village, Pejawaran subdistrict, Central Java, on Thursday, April 23, 2026.

The initiative forms part of the company’s long‑term commitment to environmental conservation while enhancing community welfare.

PT PLN Indonesia Power President Commissioner Arif Budiman said the program represents a concrete step in supporting conservation efforts. Launched in 2012, the initiative has continued to expand.

“Conservation efforts are not only about protecting the environment but also about generating economic benefits for local communities,” he noted.

By 2024, the coffee‑based conservation program in Pegundungan had already recorded the planting of 76,000 trees. The latest addition of 20,000 seedlings is aimed at restoring ecosystems in the upper Serayu River watershed.

The project covers three hamlets of Pegundungan, Srandil, and Simpar, spanning 22 hectares and involving three farmer groups with 148 beneficiaries.

Beyond its ecological impact, the program has delivered significant economic gains. Coffee plantations now cover 72.5 hectares, mostly on sloping land with intercropping systems.

Annual harvests are estimated to generate up to IDR 250 million (approx. USD 14,520) for farmer groups. To ensure sustainability, PLN provides support such as organic fertilizer facilities, training in coffee infusion techniques, and product promotion through the “Mrica Corner” outlet.

PT PLN Indonesia Power UBP Mrica Senior Manager Nazrul Very Andhi explained that the upper Serayu watershed was chosen due to its critical role in maintaining the Mrica Reservoir.

“The upstream area is fertile but prone to sedimentation during heavy rains. Coffee trees, with their strong roots and economic value, are an ideal solution,” he said.

Since the program began, around 76,000 coffee trees have been planted across five subdistricts in the upstream area. Conservation efforts are already showing results: between 2024 and 2025, approximately 100,000 cubic meters of sediment were prevented from entering the reservoir, which currently holds about 133 million cubic meters of sediment.

Nazrul added that sediment can be repurposed into organic fertilizer by mixing it with water hyacinth and animal waste, reducing reliance on chemical inputs. Looking ahead, conservation efforts will expand to the Mrawu River basin, which contributes about 70 percent of sedimentation to the reservoir.

"From an environmental perspective, the program has reduced erosion potential by 13,616 cubic meters per year and absorbed an estimated 1,805 tons of CO2e annually," he said.

Through this integrated approach to conservation and economic empowerment, PLN Indonesia Power aims to establish a sustainable environmental management model while improving the livelihoods of communities around its operations. (Lasti Martina/Sri Wahyuni)