Enviro News Asia, Bangkalan — Students from the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) Surabaya have planted around 1,500 mangrove seedlings and transplanted 200 seagrass shoots as part of an environmental conservation effort.
The activity, organized by the ITS Environmental Student Activity Unit SIKLUS (PLH SIKLUS), took place over three days from Friday to Sunday (July 11–13, 2025) in Labuhan Village, Bangkalan Regency, East Java.
Chairperson of the SIKLUS Blue Carbon Conservation (SIBECON) 2025, M. Andika Dwi Saputro, explained that mangrove forests and seagrass beds are key components of blue carbon ecosystems.
“Blue carbon ecosystems have a high capacity to absorb and store carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere over long periods of time,” he stated in an official ITS press release.
The SIBECON 2025 initiative was driven by the ongoing decline in both the quantity and quality of blue carbon ecosystems in Indonesia.
The country holds approximately 17% of the world’s blue carbon reserves and has been proven to store four times more CO₂ than terrestrial forests.
He further explained that the program aims to improve environmental, social, and economic conditions.
Blue carbon ecosystems help reduce the impact of global warming, provide habitats for aquatic life, improve water quality, and protect coastal areas from the threat of erosion.
Andika also noted that mangrove forests and seagrass beds can be developed as eco-tourism destinations and valuable educational resources.
Additionally, local communities can benefit economically from mangrove-based products that have high market value. “These include crafts, natural dyes, and even delicious food products,” he said.
In addition to planting activities, SIBECON 2025 also included public outreach on blue carbon ecosystems and CO₂ level measurements.
These initiatives aim to raise environmental awareness and increase community knowledge about blue carbon ecosystems.
In collaboration with the ITS Smart Eco Campus initiative, this program supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Goal 4 on quality education, Goal 13 on climate action, Goal 14 on life below water, and Goal 15 on life on land.
SIBECON 2025’s efforts will not stop here—the expedition will continue with blue carbon ecosystem planting activities in Gresik and Surabaya. (*)
