Discussions about endemic wildlife filled a classroom at State Senior High School 35 South Halmahera in Soligi Village, Obi Island. The animals being discussed were not species from distant places, but creatures that live close to the students’ daily lives: the Obi Cuscus, Moluccan Hanging Parrot, Ternate Lorikeet, Halmahera Cuckooshrike and Sailfin Lizard.
The students’ enthusiasm echoed the spirit of the International Day for Biodiversity, observed every May 22. This year’s theme, “Acting Locally for Global Impact”, highlights how efforts to protect biodiversity can begin within local communities while creating broader impacts.
That spirit is reflected in Sahabat Konservasi, an environmental education initiative run by Harita Nickel on Obi Island. The program encourages students to learn about the rich biodiversity of Obi Island and North Maluku, while understanding the relationship between wildlife, forests and local communities.
During the May 6, 2026 session, 42 students took part in an interactive learning program led by the conservation team from Harita Nickel’s Sustainability Department. Through a combination of endemic wildlife visualizations, simulations and group discussions, students were introduced to the ecological roles of wildlife and the importance of protecting habitats around them.
Harita Nickel Conservation Specialist Ricky Danang Pratama said the interactive approach was chosen to make conservation topics easier for students to understand.
“We want students not only to recognize the names of endemic species, but also to understand their role in the ecosystem and their connection to the lives of communities on Obi Island,” he said.
The “know and care” approach lies at the heart of the program, based on the belief that environmental awareness often grows from a sense of closeness to nature.
“I just learned that animals we often see actually play an important role in the forest. It makes me more aware that protecting the environment is also important for our future on Obi,” said Sahrul, one of the participating students.
An interactive learning session between the Harita Nickel team and students of SMA Negeri 35 Halmahera Selatan.
Yarni, a biology teacher at State Senior High School 35 South Halmahera, said the approach helped students understand environmental issues in a more contextual way.
“Conservation materials become easier to understand because the examples are closely related to students’ daily lives. The students are also more enthusiastic during discussions,” the teacher said.
The program was also evaluated through pre-tests and post-tests, which showed an average increase in participants’ scores of around 30.6 percent.
Sahabat Konservasi has been running since 2025, targeting elementary to senior high school students in Soligi and Kawasi villages. To date, the program has reached around 170 students and will continue to expand to schools in other villages surrounding the company’s operational areas.
Harita Nickel together with Sahabat Konservasi in commemoration of the 2026 International Day for Biodiversity.
Environmental education on the protection of endemic wildlife and plants has also been provided to local communities. Last April, Harita Nickel, in collaboration with the Natural Resources Conservation Agency of North Maluku, held a public awareness campaign on the importance of protecting biodiversity and wildlife habitats. Environmental awareness programs are also regularly conducted for employees as part of efforts to foster a conservation culture within the company’s operational areas.
Harita Nickel Conservation Superintendent Sephy Noerfahmy said community involvement was a key element in safeguarding environmental sustainability on Obi Island.
“Conservation must be built collectively. That is why we want awareness about protecting biodiversity to grow not only within the workplace, but also among local communities and younger generations,” Sephy said.
Amid Obi Island’s rich biodiversity and expanding industrial activities, creating space for environmental dialogue has become increasingly important. Through Sahabat Konservasi, Harita Nickel seeks to build a shared understanding that protecting habitats and wildlife is a collective responsibility.
On Obi Island, that effort is now beginning in classrooms. Through students’ curiosity about the wildlife living around them, awareness about protecting the environment is expected to gradually grow.