Enviro News Asia, Kulonprogo — Students from Institut Teknologi Yogyakarta carried out a large-scale mangrove restoration initiative in Bleberan coastal area, Banaran Village, Galur District, Kulonprogo Regency, on Sunday (24/5), as part of the commemoration of World Environment Day 2026.
The activity was initiated by the Environmental Engineering Study Program under the Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Natural Resources at ITY. The program combined environmental restoration efforts with scientific dissemination and community collaboration aimed at strengthening sustainable coastal management.
The event began with a social research dissemination session titled Community Support in the Restoration of Bleberan Mangroves, alongside presentations of student research findings on environmental suitability for mangrove ecosystems in the area. The discussions were held at Pendopo Bleberan and involved representatives from the Banaran Village Government, community leaders, and the Tirto Manunggal Forest Farmer Group.
As part of the long-term commitment to environmental conservation, the activity also included the signing of an Implementation Arrangement (IA) for community service cooperation between the faculty leadership of ITY, Banaran Village Government, and the Tirto Manunggal Forest Farmer Group.
Head of the Environmental Engineering Study Program at ITY, Evy Kusumaningrum, stated that the activity was designed to strengthen students’ awareness of global environmental challenges and sustainable coastal management practices.
She explained that the program formed part of the World Environment Day 2026 commemoration while encouraging students to take concrete action in addressing climate change through coastal ecosystem restoration.
Research coordinator Radjali Amin expressed appreciation for the enthusiasm shown by students during the conservation activity. According to him, the restoration program successfully combined environmental conservation with the positive energy and collaboration of young people.
The main restoration activity involved the planting of 200 mangrove trees along the Bleberan coastline. Around 60 students from various study programs, including Environmental Engineering, Marine Engineering, Mining Engineering, Energy Systems Engineering, and Industrial Engineering, participated in the planting effort despite difficult muddy terrain conditions.
Chairperson of the organizing committee, Bagas Adiyaksa, said the activity demonstrated that many young people remain committed to environmental sustainability and collective action for nature conservation.
He noted that the experience strengthened solidarity among participants and highlighted the importance of collaboration in protecting coastal ecosystems from abrasion and climate change impacts.
Through the collaboration between academics, students, local government, and community groups, the initiative aims to support the long-term development of Bleberan mangrove forests as a natural coastal defense system and an important component of climate resilience in Kulonprogo. (*)
