Department of MSP IPB University Receives Outstanding Conserving Sustainable Nature Award from Elshinta Radio
The Department of Aquatic Resources Management (MSP) of IPB University, represented by the Chairman of the MSP Department, Prof Hefni Effendi, received an award in the form of Outstanding Conserving Sustainable Nature.
The award was achieved through the “Semakin Hijau” program initiated by Elshinta Radio in collaboration with the Tangerang Regency Government and Ketapang Urban Aquaculture.
In addition, a group of students from the MSP Department of IPB University who are conducting Freedom of Learning Independence Campus (MBKM) activities and final project research also received awards.
The award was given as a form of appreciation for the extraordinary contribution and dedication of the entire MSP Department community of IPB University in maintaining and preserving nature and the environment in a sustainable manner.
The event was held at Ketapang Urban Aquaculture, Mauk District, Tangerang Regency and was attended by the Regional Secretary, Chief of the Fisheries and Marine Service, Chief of the Environmental Service (DLHK), Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), Sub-District Chief, and other Regional Apparatus Organizations (OPD).
Also present were a number of students, environmental activists, and coastal community groups. A number of business actors such as PT Pertamina Hulu Energi (PHE), PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) Indonesia Power, and the Indonesian Palm Oil Entrepreneurs Association (GAPKI) also participated in this event.
In the MBKM activity, students studied various aspects such as mangrove forest management, observation of mangrove plant diversity, aquatic biota that live in association with mangrove plants, mangrove habitat quality, and social-ecological system (SES) of a number of aquatic biota.
The MBKM activity was successful due to the good support from the Tangerang Regency Government and the guidance of the Chief of the Waste, Garbage, and Hazardous Toxic Substances Management Division (PSLB3) of DLHK Tangerang Regency, Hari Mahardika.
“Previously, we have collaborated with Ketapang Urban Aquaculture in the form of a cooperation agreement (PKS). The ongoing cooperation is an effort to breed belangkas or mimi mintuno, ancient animals that still survive today,” said the Chairman of the MSP Department of IPB University, Prof Hefni Effendi.
Belangkas are also known as horseshoe crabs (Tachypleus gigas). In China, the blood of Belangkas is used as an ingredient for traditional medicines.
The existence of this marine animal is threatened with extinction due to intensive hunting. The good habitat of Ketapang Urban Aquaculture makes the belangkas start coming to breed.
This collaboration with IPB University is also a real active manifestation and implementation carried out by the Tangerang Regency Government as a member of the Forum of International Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia Network of Local Governments (PEMSEA PNLG).
Interestingly, the Tangerang Regency Government also arranged the fishing village adjacent to Ketapang Urban Aquaculture, so that the village looks neat like a housing complex.
Furthermore, in order to further introduce Ketapang Urban Aquaculture, Professor of the MSP Department of IPB University, Prof. Yusli Wardiatno, explained Ketapang Urban Aquaculture activities at a workshop in collaboration with the College of Environment and Ecology (CEE), Xiamen University some time ago.
This moment gave birth to a collaboration between the Department of MSP IPB University and CEE Xiamen University in the form of mangrove research and aquatic sciences. (HEF/Nr) (IAAS/RUM)
