Tuesday, June 2, 2026 — A group of students from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) took part in a mangrove seedling planting activity at the Baros Mangrove Conservation Area on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, as a concrete step in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The activity aimed to preserve coastal ecosystems and served as a tangible contribution from the group toward the realization of SDG 14: Life Below Water and SDG 15: Life on Land. Through this initiative, the planting of mangroves along the coastal area is hoped to bring measurable impact, particularly in minimizing the threat of coastal erosion in the years to come.

The planting activity was carried out with the primary goal of preserving coastal ecosystems, reducing the risk of shoreline erosion, and protecting the marine habitat within the Baros Mangrove Conservation Area. Driven by an awareness of the importance of maintaining the balance between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, the group of UNY students went directly into the field to demonstrate their environmental commitment through independent, hands-on action. Throughout the activity, the group was guided by the local conservation area management team, who served as on-site facilitators. The management team provided education on the current condition of the coastal land and proper mangrove planting techniques to ensure the seedlings could grow strong enough to hold back erosion and reduce the force of ocean waves.

A total of 12 mangrove seedlings were planted along the coastline of the Baros Mangrove Conservation Area during the event. Beyond the planting itself, the students also received insights into the role of mangrove ecosystems as a natural habitat for various marine species, as well as a natural barrier protecting coastal areas from erosion and saltwater intrusion. The activity aligns with two SDG indicators at once, namely SDG 14: Life Below Water in terms of protecting marine biota and coastal ecosystems, and SDG 15: Life on Land which covers the management and restoration of mangrove forests as part of a sustainable terrestrial ecosystem. "We want to prove that we, as students, can make a real contribution to the environment," said one of the group members.

Going forward, the group hopes that similar activities can be carried out on a regular basis and inspire more members of the academic community to get involved in environmental conservation efforts. As part of UNY's commitment to advancing the SDGs, particularly SDG 14 and SDG 15, at both the local and national level, this activity is hoped to be a starting point for a more structured environmental service program with a broader and lasting impact for coastal communities in the future.

Full documentation: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19yt9U85Frkpb9GWqcKac9q0jazLob2q7 [1]
Activity video: https://youtu.be/oY8HEl4I7LE?si=H5bfD5AzLrLOXdgU [2]