On Friday (July 26), the event took place in Sukajadi Village, Carita, Pandeglang, Banten. The UI FMIPA Community Service Team, led by Ratna Yuniati, organized the UI Cares Initiative through the program “Mangrove Planting on Tsunami-Affected Critical Land.” Twenty UI FMIPA students participated in this activity.

To ensure the success of this activity, Ratna and her team—Retno Lestari, Rezky Aditiyo, Mufti Petala Patria, and Dimas Haryo Pradana—were assisted by two assistants and collaborated with the Pandu Cendekia Foundation, the UI Scouting Club, and GreenMetric UI, with support from the Directorate of Research and Community Service of the University of Indonesia (DRPM UI).

Ratna explained that the community service activities involving 90 villagers consisted of socialization and education on the benefits of mangroves, collectively promoting mangrove tree care programs, and creative economy programs based on the restoration of river estuary ecosystems.

Sosialisasi Bakau Kepada Warga Desa

Furthermore, the Biology Lecturer at FMIPA UI explained that these socialization and education activities were carried out to raise public awareness that mangrove plants play a strategic role in habitats and ecosystems.

This, said Ratna, is because mangrove plants can create a creative economy by producing natural honey and providing habitats for crabs, shrimp, and fish. They can even be developed into ecotourism, which is expected to increase the income of the local community.

Following the outreach and education activities for village residents, the program continued with a joint mangrove planting initiative around the river mouth of Sukajadi Village. The mangrove planting activity involved village residents and community leaders, with the aim of ensuring the sustainability of the program.