At least 1,000 participants participated in the Alas Purwo Jungle Run, held at Alas Purwo National Park, Banyuwangi, East Java, on Sunday (Aug. 25).
This event was a collaboration between Universitas Gadjah Mada, the Alas Purwo National Park Authority (BTNAP), the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and KAGAMA Running for Charity (KLUB) as part of the 15th lustrum and 75th anniversary celebrations of UGM.
Dr. Arie Sujito, the UGM Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Community Service, and Alumni, said this event strengthens UGM’s commitment to supporting healthy living, nature conservation, and the preservation of endangered species.
“We can achieve health in a fun way, boosting new energy. Through learning from nature, we can attain high-quality health,” said Dr. Sujito.
Alue Dohong, Vice Minister of Environment and Forestry, stated that the Alas Purwo Jungle Run reflects care for public health through running. He emphasized that the event can be held in conservation areas while adhering to safety, health, care, sustainability, and cleanliness principles.
“We hope the Alas Purwo Jungle Run will become a new model for promoting health and conservation. We wish this event to become a regular feature,” said Vice Minister Alue Dohong.
The deputy minister also noted that the race aims to promote Alas Purwo as a natural tourism destination while supporting environmental conservation and biodiversity preservation.
Sugirah, the Vice Regent of Banyuwangi, expressed his appreciation to UGM and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry for organizing the sporting event.
“We hope the Alas Purwo Jungle Run will introduce Alas Purwo as a tourist destination on both national and international levels. This will certainly positively impact Banyuwangi’s economic growth,” he said.
The Alas Purwo Jungle Run featured around 1,000 participants, divided into two categories: a 6 km run and a 12 km run. Runners had the chance to win cash prizes totaling millions of rupiah.
Vice Minister Alue Dohong and Vice Rector Arie Sujito participated in the Alas Purwo National Park tree-planting initiative during the event. Dyah Murtiningsih, the Director General of River Basin Management and Forest Rehabilitation, also joined the activity.
Director General of Conservation of Natural Resources and Ecosystems, Professor Satyawan Pudyatmoko, also contributed to planting pulai, sawo kecik, and sadeng trees—this effort aimed to enhance biodiversity and strengthen the tropical forest ecosystem within the park.
Vice Minister Alue Dohong and Vice Rector Arie Sujito symbolically released around 1,500 hatchling turtles on Trianggulasi Beach. This release is part of efforts to protect and conserve endangered sea turtles in Indonesia.
“The release of hatchlings signifies that humans must foster a friendship with nature. The closer we are to nature, the more we prolong life,” said Dr. Sujito.
Author: UGM Alumni Office/Kamila
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: UGM Alumni Office/Asnan
Post-editor: Afif