Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta (UPNVJ), through its Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), joined forces with the UPNVJ Student Executive Board (BEM), the Forum of Research and Community Service Institutes of the Western Indonesia State Universities Cooperation Agency (BKS-PTN Barat), the Jakarta Provincial Government, and local residents to plant 500 mangrove seedlings on Pari Island, Thousand Islands, on Monday.
The initiative formed part of the World Environment Day 2026 commemoration and involved ten UPNVJ students working alongside local communities to rehabilitate coastal areas vulnerable to erosion and environmental degradation.
The activity was conducted simultaneously with similar programs organized by several BKS-PTN Barat member universities, including Andalas University, Samudra University in Aceh, and Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University in Banten. The campaign aimed to strengthen cooperation among universities, local governments, communities, and other stakeholders in preserving coastal ecosystems.
The program also contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 on quality education, SDG 13 on climate action, SDG 14 on life below water, SDG 15 on life on land, and SDG 17 on partnerships for the goals.
Representing the Head of LPPM UPNVJ, lecturer and research team member Firlia said the activity resulted from collaboration between LPPM and BEM UPNVJ and was integrated into the broader environmental agenda of BKS-PTN Barat.
“Today, we are conducting mangrove planting together with BEM UPNVJ. This activity is also part of our collaboration with the Forum of LPPM BKS-PTN Barat,” Firlia said.
According to her, the initiative emerged after discussions between the forum and UPNVJ, which had already planned a tree-planting program on Pari Island. The two agendas were subsequently merged into a joint movement involving multiple universities.
Firlia explained that the mangrove planting program represents part of UPNVJ’s long-term community service efforts rather than a ceremonial event. Several months earlier, LPPM and BEM UPNVJ had coordinated with the Thousand Islands Administrative Regency Government to prepare a memorandum of understanding related to the implementation of the university’s tridharma activities.
“Today’s planting activity is part of our community service program. BEM UPNVJ and lecturers have also received funding from LPPM to carry out community service activities on Pari Island this year,” she said.
As a follow-up, UPNVJ plans to organize another tree-planting campaign in August 2026, focusing on coastal pine trees, which play an important role in protecting shorelines from strong winds and abrasion.
The university also intends to expand its engagement through community empowerment programs and the preparation of policy briefs involving lecturers from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences and other academic units.
Firlia noted that discussions with local residents revealed an urgent need for more environmental conservation and community development programs, as Pari Island remains highly vulnerable to coastal erosion.
Mangroves play a crucial role in maintaining coastal ecosystems by reducing wave impacts and abrasion, providing habitats for marine species, and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.
“We hope that the involvement of UPNVJ students and lecturers will not only contribute to environmental restoration but also provide significant social benefits to the people of Pari Island. The community needs empowerment programs, and the island requires more trees to protect it from abrasion,” Firlia said. (www.upnvj.ac.id)
