PT Asuransi MSIG Indonesia (MSIG Indonesia) recently conducted two activities as part of its sustainability project campaign. Together with its employees, MSIG Indonesia organized Biodiversity Fun Class (BDFC) and Mangrove Planting activities.
Held during February to March period, BDFC was held in three elementary schools, namely SDN Rancagong 01 Tangerang, SDN Grogol Selatan 05 Jakarta, and SDN Karang Tengah 05 Bogor. Meanwhile, the mangrove planting was held in Pantai Bahagia Village, Muara Gembong Regency, Bekasi, on Saturday, May 13, 2023.
As a leading general insurance company that sees the heart in everything, the company is committed to taking part in curbing the rate of climate change by preserving and protecting biodiversity through various initiatives, not only for the future of the earth, but also for us and generations to come.
According to the United Nations (UN), one million species are threatened with extinction due to human activities, such as habitat destruction, overexploitation and climate change. Biodiversity loss can have severe consequences such as reduced ecosystem productivity, reduced resilience to environmental stress, and reduced ability to provide diverse ecosystem needs such as clean air and water.
Shikato Takeuchi, President Director of MSIG Indonesia, said, “As a global company, we care deeply about sustainability. As an insurance company, we contribute to the future of the earth by doing small things that have an impact on society, one of which is through this Biodiversity Fun Class.”
In this BDFC initiative, MSIG Indonesia was supported by Gerakan Nasional Orang Tua Asuh (GNOTA), a non-profit, independent, and transparent social organization that protects children across Indonesia to get proper education, who acted as an advisor for us to determine which schools are suitable for this campaign as well as the best way to communicate with students who have different backgrounds so that the message can be conveyed well.
In addition to GNOTA, BDFC, which had a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, was also supported by Yayasan Keanekaragaman Hayati Indonesia (KEHATI) in preparing 41 employees who volunteered as teachers to assist a total of 172 grade 5 students, who were equipped with knowledge through workshops.
Through interactive activities such as story-telling about biodiversity and conducting simple science experiments titled “The Impact of the Greenhouse Effect” and “The Impact of Melting Glaciers”, children learn about the impact of climate change on the environment and the importance of preserving biodiversity for future generations. This initiative is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 15: Life on Land, which aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss.
Chairman of the National Movement of Foster Parents (GNOTA), Gendis Siti Hatmanti, on the sidelines of the activity said, “Today’s Biodiversity Fun Class activity is very good. Very useful for children because it teaches them how to protect the environment and makes them more concerned about preserving the earth.”
MSIG Indonesia realized from the early stages of this effort that many schools in rural areas may not have access to the same resources and opportunities as schools in urban areas. By holding this class in schools in rural areas, children who previously did not have the opportunity to learn about biodiversity conservation will be reached, regardless of their location or economic status. They deserve access to quality education on environmental conservation.
Not stopping there, MSIG Indonesia also participated in mangrove forest planting efforts in Muara Gembong, Bekasi. Citing information from the Sentral Rehabilitation Mangrove (SRM) Foundation, the existence of mangrove forests on the coast in the area continues to shrink and damage due to frequent abrasion.
Currently, the mangrove forest in Muara Gembong Sub-district remains around 600 hectares from the previous condition of 10,481.15 hectares and nearly 350 families have lost their homes. To contribute in saving the area from further damage, MSIG Indonesia donated 5,000 mangrove trees to be planted. This activity is part of the company’s journey to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
MSIG Indonesia Vice President Director, Bernardus P Wanandi, said that mangrove forests store blue carbon which can absorb greenhouse gas emissions, thus reducing the impact of climate change. In addition, mangrove forests are not only good for the environment, but also for the community, especially those living around the mangrove forest ecosystem. By planting and preserving mangrove forests, it is expected to anticipate and reduce the impact of climate change, which is a major concern for the company.
Climate change exacerbates biodiversity loss by changing the physical and chemical conditions of ecosystems, such as temperature, rainfall, and sea level rise. The planting activity was supported by Yayasan Sentral Rehabilitasi Mangrove (SRM), a local non-profit organization that focuses on environmental conservation, particularly mangrove forest rehabilitation.
The program aims to restore mangrove forest habitats that are vital for maintaining biodiversity, protecting coastlines, and mitigating climate change.
SRM Foundation Trustee, Imanuel Iman, said, “There has been massive damage in Muara Gembong. More than 940 hectares of land have been eroded by the sea. Land that was once land has now become sea.
That is the background why we chose to carry out rehabilitation efforts at this location. In addition, the planting that we do also has another function, not only to rehabilitate mangroves but also to help local communities who have lost their livelihoods.
First, the seedlings planted came from the community. Secondly, from the mangrove maintenance that we provide every month. Then the surrounding community also gets income from planting activities with outside parties, such as boat facilities, as well as food for visitors who do the planting.”
Iman also added that SRM Foundation has the same vision with MSIG Indonesia regarding climate change issue. “Mangrove forests can help reduce global warming because they have the ability to absorb four times more carbon than tropical forests.
In tropical forests, when leaves and twigs fall, carbon is released. While in mangrove forests, when twigs and leaves fall, they remain in the water. That’s why mangrove forests have the ability to absorb carbon four times higher than tropical forests.”
This effort is in line with the company’s mission to contribute to the development of a vibrant society and safeguard the future of the planet, by providing security and peace of mind through its global insurance and financial services business.
Preserving the earth and a good future for the next generation is a shared responsibility, from lifestyle changes that can be made by individuals to policies set by companies.
