InfoSAWIT, EAST KUTAI - After a year of implementation, the Sustainable Living Village (SLV) program initiated by Apical Group in East Kutai, East Kalimantan, has achieved several important milestones in its efforts to build sustainable villages. The program, which operates in three targeted villages—Tepian Indah, Tepian Langsat, and Tepian Makmur in Bengalon District—not only planted tens of thousands of trees but also empowered hundreds of palm oil farmers and strengthened their business legality.
Since its launch, the SLV program has been designed with a holistic approach that integrates four main pillars: enhancing community livelihoods, environmental conservation, supply chain transformation, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. The achievements recorded in the first year lay a strong foundation for expanding impact in the future.
30,000 Trees Planted, Kicking Off the Second Year with 2,000 New Trees
A key aspect of this program is environmental protection through reforestation. In its first year, SLV successfully planted 30,000 trees, surpassing its long-term target of 90,000 trees over three years. This momentum continued on July 9, 2025, with the planting of an additional 2,000 trees to mark the beginning of the second year.
The tree planting event involved 83 participants from various sectors, including government agencies, village officials, community representatives, and suppliers from Apical Group such as PT Bima Palma, PT Anugrah Energitama, and PT Kutai Balian Nauli.
"We not only met our first-year target but exceeded it. From planting 30,000 trees to training hundreds of palm oil farmers, this reflects the strong commitment and participation of the community in realizing a sustainable village," said Agus Wiastono, CSR Manager of Apical Group, in an official statement received by InfoSAWIT on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
459 Palm Oil Farmers Trained in Best Practices
The SLV program also places significant emphasis on enhancing the capacity of palm oil farmers. In just one year, 459 independent farmers participated in Best Management Practices (BMP) training, far exceeding the initial target of 150 farmers.
The second year commenced with advanced training on July 8, 2025, in Tepian Indah Village, where 26 farmers received new knowledge on selecting superior seeds and palm oil seedling methods, in collaboration with Earthworm Foundation as the implementing partner.
In terms of legality, SLV has assisted farmers in obtaining the Cultivation Registration Certificate (STDB), an essential document to support financing access and certification processes such as ISPO and RSPO. By mid-year, 88 STDBs had been issued to farmers, with a target of 500 STDBs to be achieved over three years.
"STDB is a prerequisite for entering sustainable markets. We are committed to helping farmers be better prepared to face global market challenges," explained Agus Wiastono.
Beyond palm oil, the SLV program also paves the way for economic diversification in rural communities. Two demonstration plots for cocoa cultivation have been prepared, with one already functioning as a model farm.
This initiative is part of a long-term strategy to enhance the economic resilience of residents while introducing high-value commodities that can coexist with palm oil.
SLV is a direct implementation of Apical Group's 5C philosophy—Community, Country, Climate, Customer, and Company. This philosophy encourages the company to create shared value and promote cross-sector collaboration for a sustainable future.
With various achievements in its first year, the SLV program in East Kutai serves as a tangible example of how collaboration between companies, governments, and communities can lead to inclusive, green, and sustainable village development initiatives. The second year now begins with renewed enthusiasm to expand impact and touch more lives. (T2)
