Balikpapan Bay (East Kalimantan, Indonesia) is one of the most biodiverse regions in South-East Asia. Among the bay’s rich diversity are coral reefs surrounding Balang Island. These reefs are unique, found in turbulent and brackish waters where corals rarely survive. These reefs are highly sensitive to silting due to increased erosion and sedimentation resulting from forest destruction along the coast.

A palm oil corporation, PT Dermaga Kencana Indonesia (DKI), a member of Kencana Agri Ltd. Group, plans to convert the coastal forest into a huge crude palm oil processing factory. DKI has already built and operate a palm oil bulking station which has caused serious damage to several coral reefs.

DKI has not built or operated its bulking station in an environmentally sustainable way and so is unlikely to be able to control the impact of a gigantic factory. Unless DKI can first master the impact of their jetty and bulking station to assure the continual existence of the coral reefs they should not proceed with their new factory. Please, help us to persuade Kencana Agri Ltd. to reconsider their plans.