Police and Students Plant Mangroves on Meranti's Outer Island to Combat Abrasion

Ahead of the 80th Police Day (Hari Bhayangkara), the Riau Regional Police, through its resort and sector police units, carried out a tangible environmental care action. Police planted mangrove trees on an outer island in the Riau region to prevent abrasion. The Bhabinkamtibmas (Community Policing Officer) for Bungur Village, Aipda Nanda, collaborated with the village government, local residents, and students from the University of Riau (UNRI) Pekanbaru’s Community Service Programme (KKN) to conduct a joint mangrove planting action on Pulau Setahun, Bungur Village, Rangsang Pesisir District, Meranti Islands Regency, on Friday (26/6/2026). This activity was initiated as a concrete step to support the Green Policing Programme launched by the Riau Police Chief. The programme’s main focus is to promote a policing function that is environmentally conscious and active in preserving nature. The coastal area of Rangsang Pesisir, particularly Pulau Setahun, is an outer region vulnerable to environmental damage. This mangrove seedling planting serves as an initial reforestation step to restore coastal areas that have begun to experience a decline in ecological quality. ‘Mangrove trees play a vital role in maintaining the balance of the coastal ecosystem. This planting is our collective effort to prevent abrasion and more severe environmental damage in the future,’ said Aipda Nanda in a statement on Saturday (27/6/2026). Through this planting activity, it is hoped that public awareness of the importance of protecting the natural coastal barrier will continue to increase. Beyond just planting, the activity also included a socialisation and education session. Aipda Nanda invited the UNRI KKN students and villagers to engage in a dialogue about the importance of preserving the coastal ecosystem. The community and students were asked to commit to monitoring and caring for the planted mangrove seedlings so they can grow well and provide long-term benefits for the village environment. This green initiative by the Community Policing Officer received a warm welcome and appreciation from the Bungur Village Government and local residents. The presence of the UNRI KKN students also brought positive energy and a high spirit of mutual cooperation to the community. ‘We invite the entire community to actively protect the environment from damage. As the Police Chief said, if we protect nature, nature will protect us,’ concluded Nanda.