Roots of Resilience in PT Mayawana Persada’s Central Nursery

Sustainable forest stewardship is fundamentally about uplifting the people who live alongside the landscape. For PT Mayawana Persada, operating across Ketapang and Kayong Utara regencies in West Kalimantan, long-term concession conservation relies directly on how well neighboring communities grow and prosper alongside corporate operations.

This inclusive social framework comes to life through close partnerships with diverse Dayak sub-tribes across 12 villages and 24 hamlets surrounding the operational area. Iwan Budiman, Director & Operational Head of PT Mayawana Persada, underscores the importance of honoring traditional dynamics:

"Our foremost priority is tailoring our engagement to the distinct local wisdom and customary values of each village, ensuring industrial forestry operations and community livelihoods thrive in harmony," he explains.

Central Nursery: A Hub for Seedling Cultivation and Female Empowerment

The company’s long-term social investment is anchored by its central nursery facility. Beyond producing high-grade seedlings for sustainable plantation forestry, the facility serves as a vital engine for local job creation and practical vocational training.

Today, the central nursery employs between 300 and 400 local residents, expanding upon previous nursery operations that engaged around 150 workers.

Key social impacts of the nursery initiative include:

• Gender Inclusion: Women and homemakers account for 60% of the active nursery workforce.
• Vocational Up-skilling: An estimated 40% to 45% of female employees joined with no prior technical background. PT Mayawana Persada provides ongoing, structured training until they achieve operational mastery.
• Household Economic Resilience: Reliable, independent income empowers local women to support daily family welfare and fund higher education for their children.

Merit-Based Careers and Generational Educational Support

Human resource development at PT Mayawana Persada is grounded in an open meritocracy. Professional advancement is accelerated through the internal Fiber Learning Academy, which serves as an operational incubator for skills upgrades and leadership training.

Iwan Budiman’s personal trajectory reflects this commitment to internal mobility:

"I built my career here from the ground up—starting as an assistant, lead assistant, manager, senior manager, operations head, and general manager, before being appointed Director. Growth is driven entirely by competence, discipline, and dedication," he shares.

This commitment to equity extends to the next generation. Children of local workers who complete higher education are actively recruited into permanent professional roles through transparent hiring pathways. In addition, the company provides academic scholarships for employees' children and local village youths to cultivate competitive regional talent.

Beyond nursery operations, PT Mayawana Persada engages local community members as key business partners, including planting and harvesting subcontractors and supporting service vendors. By integrating seedling cultivation, vocational training, and youth scholarships, the company ensures the future of the forest is built alongside the communities who call it home.