ULM implements Impactful Village Development programme undertaking coral reef transplantation
Banjarbaru — A student team from Universitas Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) implemented the Impactful Village Development programme in Sungai Dua Laut village, Sungai Loban District, Tanah Bumbu Regency, South Kalimantan, undertaking coral reef transplantation and plastic waste management based on ecobrick methodology.
ULM student team leader Disma Peranita explained in Banjarbaru on Tuesday that the programme stemmed from the coastal environmental conditions of the village, which possesses significant marine resource potential yet faces coral reef damage and plastic waste accumulation problems.
According to her, the marine potential in the village is quite good, but there is coral reef damage and considerable plastic waste. If the marine environment is not protected, she stated, marine life will also be impacted.
For this reason, the team sought to assist in restoring the marine ecosystem through coral reef transplantation and reducing plastic waste through ecobrick as a functional product such as benches and plant pots.
The ULM team comprised 15 students from the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, the Faculty of Engineering, and the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, with field supervisor lecturer Nursalam S.Kel., MS.
In implementation, students conducted education on the importance of coral reefs, installation of planting media, and planting coral seedlings using the brick block method.
Additionally, socialisation and training in ecobrick production were conducted, ranging from plastic waste sorting to the manufacturing of benches and plant pots.
Disma acknowledged that community response to the programme was excellent, with participation from fishermen and village youth in the coral transplantation activities. Meanwhile, women and children participated in ecobrick training.
Nursalam stated that the programme provided students with contextual learning experiences and reinforced soft skills such as communication, social adaptation, and problem-solving.
From the community perspective, increased awareness in protecting the marine ecosystem and managing waste sustainably is expected.
“I have asked my students to conduct monitoring of coral reef development by establishing communication with the village to track its progress,” said Nursalam.
He added that the ULM Impactful Village Development programme represents ULM’s commitment to providing experience-based learning and direct student contribution to community development.