The Planting Hundreds of Mangrove Seeds by HIMITEKA at Parigi, Ciamis
The Students Association of Marine Science and Technology (HIMITEKA), Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University (FPIK IPB) implemented the mangrove planting activities in estuaries of Bojongsalawe Village, District Parigi, Ciamis regency, West Java. The program was carried out on 3-4 December 2011. Approximately 560 seedlings of mangrove were planted. The activity was part of the “Mahasiswa Turun Desa” (Students Go to Village) Program to commemorate the 48th Anniversary of the University.
Mangrove planting program was the culmination of the activities of the Conservation and Survey of Marine Field (KONSURV). A series of activities for KONSURV were held, namely "Coins For Mangrove" and " Mangrove Adoption "which were conducted on campus Darmaga, Bogor, and were distributed at some bustle points. Wherease "Adoption of Mangrove" was the fund-raising program to attract prospective donators to donate Rp. 5.000,- (five thousand Rupiah) for a mangrove seedlings to be planted, but the "Coins For Mangrove" is fund-raising program for prospective donors with unlimitied donation. For donators of "Adoption of Mangrove", they will be informed about the progress of mangroves planting program through SMS or email. "Our activities are not only planting, but will also control the developmental growth of newly planted mangrove regularly in every 3-4 months. In addition, the committee will also observe the growth of mangroves to anticipate any problems that appear before they are getting too late" expressed the Chief Executive of KONSURV, Dwi Setiadi F (ITK Students of 2008).
In addition to planting mangroves, HIMITEKA Students also conducted environmental surveys and extension program on the important role of mangrove ecosystems for fishing communities of Bojongsalawe Village, District Parigi, Ciamis regency, West Java. The most interesting part of the extension program was the use of Sundanese language, as it becomes a challenge for students as they have to translate the scientific contents of their extension into the Sundanese language for the community to understand the extension easily. Finally, the program was ended by the social service, free distribution of basic food for local fishermen. Total around 100 people consisted of the community members, students, and representatives from BAPPEDA Ciamis, UPTD Ciamis, DKP Ciamis attended the event.
The main idea of this activity is actually the implementation of the education and community service which is formulated in the Tri Dharma of the higher learning institutions. In this activity students are expected to practice ITK (Marine Science and Technology) they learned directly in the community. "The benefits of this activity, students had opportunities to socialize and communicate directly with the coastal fishermen. Thus, they had improve either their soft- or hard-skill ". Said Coordinator of Student Affairs and Alumni Relations Department of ITK, Beginer Subhan S. Pi, M.Sc. (Wied).
