UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), in partnership with the East Java Provincial Government, participated in the 7th Mangrove Festival 2025. The event took place on Tuesday (Aug. 19, 2025) at Tambak Bahak Beach, Curah Dringu Village, Tongas District, Probolinggo Regency.
The Mangrove Festival has become an important campaign for climate change mitigation. Since its launch in 2022, the festival has been held across one city and five regencies in East Java. This year’s activities were centered at Tambak Bahak Beach in Probolinggo.
The 7th Mangrove Festival brought together stakeholders from government, the private sector, academia, and community groups. Senior officials attending included the Head of the East Java Forestry Office, the Secretary of the Directorate General of PDARSH at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, and the Regent of Probolinggo.
UNAIR community and alumni active role
UNAIR’s academic community and alumni made significant contributions during the event. Participants included representatives from the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Vocational Studies, the SDGs Center, and the Alumni Association (IKA UNAIR). Their activities included mangrove planting, releasing waterbirds and crabs, and providing free health services to local residents.
According to Prof. Mochammad Amin Alamsjah, UNAIR Vice Rector for Academic, Student, and Alumni Affairs, the initiative was an important step toward strengthening coastal green belts. “We are aware of the pollution challenges in aquatic ecosystems, and mangroves play a critical role in determining whether our green belts remain healthy and effective,” he said.
Probolinggo was chosen as the venue due to its central location among East Java’s mangrove conservation areas. “Being in the middle, Probolinggo serves as a strategic site to expand awareness of the importance of mangroves for coastal green belts,” he explained.
Advancing Sustainable Development Goals
Prof. Alamsjah also emphasized that the festival provided an opportunity for UNAIR to contribute more meaningfully to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), both in Indonesia and globally. He added that the involvement of students, faculty, and alumni was intended to strengthen public awareness of the importance of protecting aquatic ecosystems.
“Our hope is that this event raises community attention to the sustainable use of aquatic resources, particularly mangroves. Their existence is essential for preserving marine ecosystems, serving as genetic reservoirs, and protecting shorelines from abrasion,” he noted.
“Oxygen Charity”
In her remarks, East Java Governor Dr. (H.C., U.A.) Khofifah Indar Parawansa, M.Si., who also serves as Chair of IKA UNAIR, encouraged participants to embrace the principle that planting mangroves is an “act of giving oxygen.” She described mangrove planting as a reflection of love and responsibility for the environment.
She also expressed her hope that the festival would provide tangible benefits for local fishers and the community in Probolinggo. “Mangroves create habitats for fish, meaning fishers no longer need to venture far out to sea. With this, we hope local communities can achieve greater prosperity and well-being,” she said.
UNAIR’s involvement in the 7th Mangrove Festival reaffirms its commitment to advancing the SDGs, particularly Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), Goal 14 (Life Below Water), Goal 15 (Life on Land), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Author: Yulia Rohmawati
