IPB Students: Utilized Mangrove as an Ecosystem Game
Not so many people understand that mangrove forest is part of the coastal ecosystem which is as important as other ecosystems. Mangrove forests are extremely productive ecosystems that provide numerous good and services both to the marine environment. In addition for coastal protection, mangrove forests are home to a large variety of fish, crab, shrimp, and mollusk species.
Having similar interest and concern on mangrove ecosystem, a group of students from various regions were invited to meet at the Faculty of Fishery and Marine Science of Bogor Agricultural University (FPIK IPB) to promote their initiatives and develop a mangrove themed program.
The designed mangrove program for the 2017 Program Kreativitas Mahasiswa bidang Penelitian (PKM-P Student Creativity Program for Research) is an educative tool given through a variety of activities such as Grove Book (book), Grovia Shirt (T-shirt), Grove Craft (skill), and Grove Move (movementcra) .
The program uses the principle of Integrated Experimental Learning, where children perform activities started from the introduction of mangrove ecosystems, maintenance of mangrove ecosystems up to processing mangrove products. Those programs are practiced directly and they were accompanied by exciting games. To conclude the program, the participants are trained to cultivate mangrove seeds around the coastal areas.
"The children get the manual book for activities from the start to finish, in addition T-shirt specially designed for this program were provided for them. Grove Move is an activity where children will perform martial arts gymnastics, while for Grove Craft is an activity where children will try to make various products made from the mangrove ecosystem. For example, handicrafts made of sarasah leaves (fertilizer from decayed leaves) obtained from the mangrove floor, and training course for the production of dodol from Bogem fruit (Sonneratia spp), and batik dye made of Bruguiera Ghimnorhyza tree, "said Rizky Eko Muliawan, Chairman of PKM-P.
Assisted by Liza Amelia, Yoan Ardiansyah and Puspita Rahayu, Rizky decided to implement their study program in Bekasi, precisely in House of Aisyah. It is the umbrella house where the children of coastal areas of Bekasi acquired their nautical ability.
"So far we have partnered with House of Aisyah in implementing our program. Helping students love mangroves is the primary goal of our program, and this program will also inspire others to increase the awareness young generations about the mangrove ecosystems, "said Rizky. (Wied)
