Cleaning up waste in the forest

MOSAIC-INDONESIA.COM, JAKARTA — The forest preservation campaign was again conducted in Gunung Putri, Lembang, Bandung Regency, West Java, Saturday (3/8/2024). The Republika-driven movement is teaming up with environmental activists supported by various companies and philanthropic institutions around Bandung, to clear forests of garbage. The movement also took its local name, Bebersih Leuweung. This program has been implemented in Republika since 2023.

Operational Director of PT Republika Media Mandiri Nur Hasan Murtiaji revealed that in Bebersih Leuweung this time, inorganic waste will be taken to the vending machine facility to be exchanged for points in the form of e-wallets or accounts. According to him, the inorganic waste collected can be of value. The money successfully collected, he said, will be used for social activities or in the form of a waqf program, namely the waqf forest.

In addition, the BeBersih Leuweung action, which brought many people together, carried out a carbon emission footprint calculation. By knowing the carbon footprint of participants, he hopes, there will be some sort of compensation to replace the carbon already expended. It is working with Truclimate to calculate the carbon footprint.” For example, what the participants rode, a car or a motorcycle. About later there will be a formula (counting) that planting trees and reducing plastic reduces carbon,” said Hasan, who is also a member of the Stereeng Committee Mosaic.

Hasan hopes the Bebersih Leweung action can be routinely held. For the earth must be guarded not only at certain times, but at any time.” We want Leweung's cleaning activities to be held regularly with more recent innovations, mitigating, and helping to mitigate the climate crisis,” he said.

The Bebersih Leuweung action involves nature-loving communities such as Pamor FPOK UPI, Mapala STIKOM Bandung and Unisba including the Environmental Rescue Forum. The activities were also supported by the Provincial Government of Jabar, Bank BJB, Perhutani, PTPN VIII, Palawi Risorsis, Bisto Mineral Water, BJB Sharia Bank, Rumah Waqf, Rumah Zakat, Truclimate and Eiger.

Bebersih Leuweung Volume II is a series of programs initiated by Republika.  The program has been running since June and will be followed by other activities.

The head of the West Java Provincial Forestry Department Dodit Ardian Pancapana said that the population in West Java reached 50 million with available land reaching 3.7 million. Meanwhile, 41 percent of the land is covered by trees. Under these conditions, the pressure on the existence of forests in Jabar is high.” Therefore, with the activities initiated by the media it is very important for the 50 million residents of Jabar so that the forest protection efforts of nature conservation can be strongly echoed by the public audience,” Dodit said.

Moreover, Dodit said that some of the people of Jabar are young people. So that the activities carried out by Republika are very suitable for today's young people.” I invite other institutions, other entities to follow the steps taken by Republika, moreover, this is the moment when 17 August, 79 Indonesian and 79 years of West Javaare very suitable,” he said.

Dodit added efforts to preserve the environment and preserve forests can start from the fringes of the forest. At the same time encouraging the forest community to prosper. He said Republika sought to ground the values of nationhood and the struggle about nature adapted to the conditions in Jabar.

Perum Perhutani West Java and Banten revealed the activities of Bebersih Leuweung (Forest) volume II in Gunung Putri to help Forestry work. Chief Divre Perhutani Jabar and Banten Yudha Suswardhanto appreciated Bebersih Leuweung's activities as part of the efforts to save the earth and forests. In addition, the activity synergizes with Perhutani in managing forests.

“The activities that are efforts to save the earth, we are very happy because this includes synergies for us in managing our tasks, especially forest and environmental rescue,” Yudha said on the sidelines of the Bebersih Leuweung event.

Yudha said that Perhutani has a duty to look after the forest as well as being a supporter for the communities around the forest. It invited the Republic to jointly implement local wisdom with the people of West Java.

“Perhutani as a state-owned enterprise that manages forests as the main task of maintaining forests can be a system support for the surrounding communities as well as the ecosystem of Java island as a whole,” he said.

Yudha added that environmental rescue activities and actions are more dense in the West Java region compared to other provinces on the island of Java. “Efforts to save the environment, however small, need to be appreciated and supported,” he said. (Rep).