ULM Encourages Mangrove Ecosystem Conservation Through Cross-Sector Collaboration and Community Participation
Banjarmasin – Forum Group Discussion (FGD) Revitalization of State Universities (PTN) Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) 2024 with the theme “Collaborative Governance: Mangrove Management Policy Through Cross-Sector Cooperation and Community Participation,” held by ULM through the Academic Support Unit (UPA) Wetland Environment. The event which took place in the Emerald Fugo Hotel Banjarmasin Room, Monday (13/5) was attended by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at ULM Dr. Iwan Aflanie, dr. M.Kes., Sp.F., S.H., Head of Bureau, Dean and Vice Dean, Head of Institution, and Head of UPA within ULM.
During 2024, ULM has received funding for educational revitalization with one of the work programs, namely holding Forum Group Discussion activities in order to increase ULM’s participation in solving regional and national issues to support ULM’s vision and mission as a leading and competitive university in the field of wetlands.
Reported by the Head of UPA LLB ULM, Dr. Eng. Maya Amalia, S.T. M.Eng. that this FGD activity was attended by stakeholders from central, regional, private agencies, academics, NGOs, mangrove observers and the community with a total number of invitations of 65 people, as well as the ULM revitalization team of 9 people. He added that it was hoped that the FGD event could become material in preparing academic papers related to mangrove management through cross-sector collaboration and community participation in South Kalimantan.
“Because ULM’s vision and mission is to become a leading university that focuses on wetlands, and currently the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry is processing permits for ULM to use 600 hectares of mangrove land in Kotabaru,” she said.
Apart from that, various field activities, especially studies related to mangrove management and the social conditions of the community, as well as mangrove biodiversity are also things that the ULM Wetland Environment UPA pays attention to in its activities.
“There are three things we will do, namely utilizing mangrove land and carbon, mangrove research stations, then creating an environmentally friendly pond business with mangroves to empower the surrounding community, hopefully this can improve their (surrounding community) economy,” she added
Don’t forget, Dr. Iwan as Vice Rector and representing the Chancellor of ULM expressed his gratitude and appreciation for the efforts made by UPA LLB ULM where he stated that wetlands are a unique object of ULM, so it is appropriate to protect and preserve the sustainability of mangroves in South Kalimantan.
“Today we are gathered for collaborative government which we are implementing together and definitely involving the community, and we hope that later the focus of this event can really direct us to things that are constructive and innovative to develop environmental conservation, especially mangroves in South Kalimantan, and God willing, national,” he said.
