Relentless eco warriors fight against all odds

Novia D. Rulistia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Feature | Tue, February 03 2015, 9:47 AM - See more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2015/02/03/relentless-eco-warriors-fight-against-all-odds.html#sthash.NYB1n8yW.dpuf

But some beg to differ. With strong determination and hard work, they show that no challenges are impossible to tackle. Aziil Anwar from Majene in West Sulawesi is one such individual. He has been dealing with mangrove rehabilitation in his coastal village since the 1990s. The mangroves in his village had almost disappeared as residents used them as firewood, but he was determined to change the condition. In some parts, it was quite easy for him to grow the mangroves, but in others, dead coral hampered his efforts. His curiosities led him to discovering how to grow mangrove on a rock. 

Many people initially doubted his “Mangrove on Rock” program, but he dismissed it and kept on going. He and his team have been successful in planting thousands of mangrove trees in the 60-hectare area, protecting the village from floods. His mangrove rehabilitation program has also succeeded in improving the local economy and his efforts have been recognized by many, including the Indonesian Biodiversity (Kehati) Foundation that recently awarded him the Prakarsa Lestari award as part of the Kehati Awards for his contribution to protecting the country’s biodiversity. 

The Kehati Awards was first held in 2000 with only one winner from one category. It grew to five categories in 2001, and in 2009 Kehati added one more category, Tunas Lestari. This year the awards had six categories: the Prakarsa Lestari Kehati award for individuals or groups, the Pendorong Lestari Kehati award for public service organizations or government, the Peduli Lestari Kehati award for businesspeople, the Cipta Lestari Kehati award for scientists or academics, the Citra Lestari Kehati award for mass media or artists, and the Tunas Lestari Kehati award for youngsters. In its eighth edition this year, the awards saw Achmad Subagio from East Java win the Cipta Lestari, CV Arum Ayu from Banten win the Peduli Lestari, Agustinus Sasundu from North Sulawesi win the Citra Lestari, Janumiro from Central Kalimantan win the Pendorong Lestari, and ecosystem study group Kesemat from Central Java win the Tunas Lestari. 

The panel of judges selected the six winners out of 88 applicants. Eko Baroto Walujo, the selection panel head, said that to win, each candidate had to show the benefits and impacts of their programs for society and biodiversity. “We also assessed the sustainability of their projects, as well as the originality and innovation in what they did,” he said. Another judge, Yono Reksoprodjo, said all winners had shown that their biodiversity programs had added value to the economy. Each winner received Rp 25 million (US$ 1,960) as a cash prize. Another winner, Agustinus from Sangihe, developed traditional bamboo instruments to help empower local residents as well as helping traditional music to survive. In Sangihe, bamboo musical instruments are often used in cultural events. “We used to only have suling [flutes] to play during the events,” he said. He did some research and made a clarinet, trombone and bass, among others, from bamboo, to enrich the local sound. He set up a workshop where people could learn to make the instruments so they could sell them for additional income. 

Meanwhile, Achmad Subagio received recognition for his work in developing cassava as a food alternative and improving the lives of people living in marginalized areas. The lecturer and researcher at Jember University decided to get out of his lab and implement his research on cassava-based flour. He set up his own factory, but had to close it due to some problems. Not giving up, he built another factory and the business went well. He also went to several marginalized areas to help people get out of poverty by providing them with another source of income. “In those areas, I made working groups to supply the need for the factory. One village is tasked with washing the cassava, another peeling it, and others to dry it or slice it,” Achmad said. The cassava flour is then used to make cookies, cakes, noodles and rice, which are also sold in his stores. Kehati board chairman Ismid Hadad said the individuals had won because of their efforts, against all odds, to save the environment. “Without waiting for instruction and assistance from the government, they are protecting the environment,” he said. “They are the new faces of hope in protecting our biodiversity.” - 

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PERKEMAHAN SAHABAT MANGROVE (Camp of Mangrove's friends)

Menyambut hari Ibu 22 Desember 2013, YPMMD West Celebes bekerjasama dengan Greenvision Sulbar, dengan dukungan penuh BPDAS Lariang Mamasa melaksanakan perkemahan Sahabat Mangrove di Mangrove Learning Center Majene. Kegiatan yang dikemas dalam bentuk kemah karya bakti ini pada awalnya direncanakan hanya untuk 100 orang peserta, dan undangan hanya disebarkan melalui facebook, namun baru pada hari kedua pendaftaran peserta telah mencapai lebih dari 200 orang. tanggapan positif dari facebooker ini cukup membuat kelabakan pihak panitia. Kalau masalah komsumsi masih bisa diatasi, tapi yang paling merepotkan adalah menyiapkan tambahan baju kaos yang lengkap dengan sablonnya.

Mangrove project reconnects Ronaldo and tsunami survivor

It was a sweet and unexpected reunion between world soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo and Martunis, a survivor of the 2004 Aceh tsunami, on Wednesday.

Ronaldo, nicknamed CR7, came to the resort island as an ambassador for the Mangrove Care Forum Bali.

“It’s great to see him again. He looks the same. I wish him the best,” the Portuguese soccer celebrity said about Martunis.

The Acehnese, now 15, was dragged out to sea and swept into a mangrove swamp. Wearing a red and green Portuguese soccer jersey with Ronaldo’s name on it, Martunis survived on puddle water and dried noodles and was rescued 19 days later and reunited with his father and grandfather.

His story attracted European media attention. In 2008, Ronaldo visited him in Aceh in 2008 and financed his education.

“I am privileged to be able to play a role in conserving mangroves in Indonesia. I was in Aceh after the 2004 tsunami and the devastation I saw left a deep impression. I understand that in places where there were mangroves to provide a natural buffer against high waves, more lives were saved and less damage sustained,” Ronaldo said.

“I’m not paid [for being an ambassador]. I am doing this because I like to help the people, the children, the Earth and I think it’s great.”

The Real Madrid star said he was honored to return to Indonesia on this environmental mission.

Ronaldo joined in with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to plant mangroves at Telaga Waja, Benoa Bay. The area is part of the 1,373-hectare Ngurah Rai People’s Forest Park, the largest mangrove forest in Bali and an area that suffers from severe pollution, deforestation and littering.

The forum is expected to involve local communities in the clean up and creation of a safe environment for plants and marine life.

Data from the Forestry Ministry’s Unda Anyar river flow management showed around 253 hectares of the forest was damaged, largely due to land conversion and pollution.

Driven by concern over the alarming condition of the mangrove forest, community empowerment agencies and village chiefs for Tanjung Benoa, Benoa Jimbaran, Tuban and Kedonganan established the forum in April, with support from the Artha Graha Peduli Foundation.

Members of the forum are responsible for maintenance, preservation, planting, rehabilitation of degraded land and mangrove development, as well as holding social activities and community empowerment.

“We have learned much from our 16 years conserving Tambling’s mangroves [in South Bukit Barisan National Park in Lampung]. With the same passion and commitment, we aim to save the mangrove forest in Benoa Bay,” foundation founder Tomy Winata said, adding that protecting mangroves would also protect the livelihood of many villagers.

On the sidelines of the event, Yudhoyono received a jersey which was emblazoned with “SBY” and Ronaldo’s favorite number “7” and signed by the player. First Lady Ani Yudhoyono also received a jersey emblazoned with name “Ani” and signed by Ronaldo.