Hundreds of students from the UGM Faculty of Forestry (Forestry UGM), members of the Forest Cultivation Student Association (Himaba), have carried out the Forester in Action (FIA) initiative by planting over 2,500 tree saplings in Tanggulangin, Kebumen, Central Java.
The saplings include 2,000 mangrove plants and 500 casuarina plants to prevent coastal abrasion and erosion.
Rakha Brilian Putra, the committee chair, mentioned that this tree planting activity is part of Himaba’s community service initiatives, which include collaborative research, community service, and fostering camaraderie among foresters.
“The planting of mangroves and casuarinas is the main activity in Forester in Action. The selection of casuarina trees this time was requested by the local community, farmers’ groups, and fishermen,” Putra said in a statement to reporters on Monday (Jun 10).
Before the planting activity, the students had been growing casuarina saplings since December 2023. The seeds used were collected from Mliwis Beach, Kebumen. In mid-December, the Himaba team sowed the casuarina seeds, and by early January, the seedlings were transplanted.
Mangrove seeds, sourced from Lembupurwo, Kebumen, began their preparation in January, with the students setting up seedbeds using mud from Baros Beach and fish ponds.
“We did this to match the growing environment to their natural habitat so that the mangroves could grow well and uniformly,” he said.
Once the saplings were ready for planting, they were nurtured in nurseries until they were suitable for the field. The casuarina saplings underwent selection to ensure straight growth and to avoid ball root issues, which helped ensure their survival when planted in the field.
Before the planting activity, students and the community collaborated to move the saplings and mark the planting blocks.
“The moving of saplings was assisted by the mangrove conservation group and the fishermen’s group from Tanggulangin Village,” he added.
Dr. Winastuti Dwi Atmanto, a supervising lecturer from the Faculty of Forestry, explained that tree planting encourages students to apply silviculture knowledge to sustain coastal ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and maintain overall ecosystem functions for long-term human and environmental benefits.
“In addition to tree planting, students also held a dialogue session to discuss potential developments in Tanggulangin Village to boost the village’s economy. This dialogue was attended by the Klirong district head, the village head, Tanggulangin village officials, and residents,” she said.
Author: Gusti Grehenson