Environmental Communication of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Fire Disaster Mitigation on Peatlands

Abstract

Mitigation of forest and land fires is very important to implement in peatlands. This paper aims to explain the role of Pertamina’s CSR communication in mitigating peatland fires around the company’s operational areas. This research used qualitative methods with case studies. The results showed that Pertamina’s CSR communication contributed to increasing awareness of fire disaster mitigation and changing people’s behavior in utilizing peatlands through the “Kampung Gambut Berdikari” program. In addition, the community was also trained and provided with fire extinguishers to prevent fires on peatlands. CSR implementers establish friendly relations and foster the Tunas Makmur farmer group and the Fire Concern Community (Masyarakat Peduli Api/MPA) group to prevent fires. CSR communication is able to increase the awareness of the surrounding community in managing the peat environment. CSR together with the community develops peat arboretum ecotourism and pineapple plantations for environmental education and improving people’s welfare. This peat arboretum ecotourism is not only a medium of communication to spread educational messages to the farmer community, but also to school students, youth and visitors. In the future, CSR program actors can implement environmental communication as a form of disaster mitigation to prevent forest and peatland fires.