By: Shera Fanesha

As a form of commitment to social responsibility, PT Bank Central Asia Tbk. (BCA) provides support for sea turtle conservation programs in Indonesia to WWF-Indonesia. The support in the form of a Rp 445 million donation was symbolically handed over by BCA President Director Jahja Setiaatmadja to WWF-Indonesia Acting CEO Benja Mambai at Menara BCA, Jakarta, on Monday (19/12).

On the occasion, BCA's President Director said, "As a banking institution that also pays attention to animal and nature conservation, BCA fully supports WWF's sea turtle conservation program in order to ensure the balance of the chain in the natural ecosystem."

Sea turtles are one of the protected animals. Six of the seven species of sea turtles in the world can be found in the waters of Indonesia. Since 1984, WWF-Indonesia has been involved in several sea turtle conservation projects and programs, including the forest rehabilitation program for sea turtle conservation centers in Pangumbahan, West Java and Aroen Meubanja, Aceh. "BCA strongly supports WWF-Indonesia's movement to rehabilitate degraded forests into ideal conservation centers for sea turtles to lay their eggs. Its location close to the beach is also a special attraction for tourists, which is expected to raise the awareness of local communities to develop tourism potential based on environmental conservation," added Jahja.

Benja Mambai as Acting CEO of WWF-Indonesia said that with the funding assistance for the program to be carried out in the two areas, at least it will ensure that sea turtle landings to the beach will not be disturbed, especially by humans. "With this collaboration, together we protect turtle eggs from predators. We want to ensure safety, incubation before the turtle emerges as a hatchling and it can go swimming to the sea safely," he explained. He added, "We must note that of every turtle that goes up and lays eggs, no more than 20% survive. This is what makes us all have to work together to maintain the wealth that we have because this is a pride."

BCA does not solely provide support to WWF but also provides support to local governments and communities through WWF-Indonesia. It is hoped that this can help mobilize the awareness of other parties to help because conservation cannot be done by one party alone.

The symbolic donation ceremony was attended by Inge Setiawati (BCA Corporate Social Responsibility), Sapto Rachmadi (Senior Adviser for CSR Solution Development), and Wawan Ridwan (Director Coral Triangle Program WWF-Indonesia). At the same time, BCA also handed over the donation to the Cataract Blindness Management Section of the Indonesian Ophthalmologist Association (SPBK - Perdami), represented by Ari Djatikusumo as Vice I PP Perdami and witnessed by the Chairperson of SPBK Perdami, Yeni Dwi Lestari.