Nurturing Environmental Love, Himiteka IX Expedition Holds Coastal Clean Up with Buru Island Elementary School Students
The IX Marine Science and Technology Student Association (Himiteka) expedition held a coastal clean up with students of Alhilaal Elementary School (SD) Wamlana, Buru Regency, Maluku on Thursday (10/10). The beach clean up action carried out by IPB University students included 33 participants and was carried out along Wamlana Beach, Fena Leisela District, Buru Regency.
The 150-meter area of Wamlana Beach was the location of the coastal clean-up, which was based on the Scientific Ranger Beach Cleanup Guide method, a collaboration between Divers Clean Action (DCA) and the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN). The waste obtained was then weighed and measured to obtain data on the distribution of waste on Wamlana Beach.
“This activity is one of the steps in introducing elementary school students to protecting the environment and analyzing the type, amount, and weight of waste found,” said Hasna Syaripatu as the person in charge of coastal clean up activities.
Previously, on the same date, Himiteka IX Expedition held a Turtle and Waste Socialization at Alhilaal Wamlana Elementary School. Disposing of garbage in its place and taking action to clean the beach was one of the materials presented at the socialization in order to preserve the leatherback turtle, one type of turtle categorized as vulnerable (vulnerable) that lays eggs on Wamlana Beach.
“Thank you to the Himiteka IX Expedition team for carrying out the socialization at Alhilaal Wamlana Elementary School and inviting students to take action to clean the beach,” said Hikmah, 4th grade teacher of Alhilaal Wamlana Elementary School. “The children learned about sea turtles, conservation, and waste,” she continued.
The students were enthusiastic in collecting waste, especially inorganic waste. Starting from plastic, paper, rubber, textiles to metal. After collecting the waste, the students were invited to play games and sing together.
On the beach, single-use plastic was the most abundant waste, followed by recycled plastic and paper. The heaviest waste was recycled plastic, followed by single-use plastic and metal waste. It is known that the waste comes from community activities. In addition, some waste also comes from the sea which eventually washed up on the beach.
The Himiteka IX expedition was held from September 21 to October 18, 2024 on Buru Island with the theme ‘Rapid Assessment of Leatherback Turtle Distribution and Analysis of Village Community-Based Conservation Opportunities in Support of PIT Fishing on Buru Island’. In addition to coastal clean up and socialization activities, several other Himiteka IX Expedition series include data collection of leatherback turtle nesting habitat, social and economic interviews, and installation of information boards. (*/Rz) (IAAS/HLF)
