Dompet Dhuafa and WALHI Raise Environmental Awareness in Banten

6 June 2024, 15:48

Dompet Dhuafa gemakan peduli lingkungan hidup di Tangerang

BANTEN — Located at the confluence of four tectonic plates, the Indonesian archipelago is both potential and prone to disasters such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and landslides. Data shows that Indonesia is one of the countries that has a high level of seismicity in the world, more than 10 times the level of seismicity in the United States (Arnold, 1986).

Banten is also one of the areas prone to earthquake and tsunami disasters, due to its location close to sea waters.

Although it has a lot of natural beauty, coastal areas often go unnoticed by the public because they are prone to disasters. Therefore, through the Disaster Management Center (DMC) disaster unit, Dompet Dhuafa continues to raise disaster and environmental issues. One of them is for the Banten region.

In voicing this disaster and environmental issue, Dompet Dhuafa packs it through various things. During Car Free Day in Serang City, Banten, Sunday (2/6/2024), Dompet Dhuafa Banten together with DMC and Dompet Dhuafa Volunteer (DDV) Banten held an environmental action. This moment coincided with the Environmental People’s Week in Banten on June 2-5, 2024 by Wahana Lingkungan Hidup Indonesia (WALHI).

An environmental awareness rally at the Environmental People’s Week to commemorate Environment Day.

One of the campaign props was a chainsaw, which is often used to cut large trees in the forest.

This action is one of a series of activities to commemorate Environment Day which is set on every June 5.

Ahmad Baihaki, Manager of Preparedness and Mitigation of Climate Change Adaptation DMC Dompet Dhuafa said, Dompet Dhuafa welcomed the invitation to collaborate with the Environmental People’s Week initiated by WALHI. Of course Dompet Dhuafa and WALHI have the same vision, namely to protect nature and make people aware of the importance of protecting the environment.

“DMC itself sees how important community preparedness is in dealing with disasters in the vicinity. That education and simulation must target the community, so as to reduce the risk of disaster impacts in the vicinity,” said Ahmad.

In addition, Dompet Dhuafa DMC is currently working on a campaign to preserve coastal areas by emphasizing mangrove cultivation.

One of the series of actions was a long march wearing environmental campaign props.

The environmental action was attended by various environmental activist communities.

Adam Kurniawan, head of WALHI’s National Executive Public Engagement Division, said that the reason for holding the action in Banten was because WALHI wanted to show that the consolidation of the people was still strong. A total of 29 provinces will gather in this place to fight all extractivism policies that torment the people.

“(As a result of poor management) The results harvested are disasters that torment the people. So we need to fight against extractive policies,” he said.

The series of activities for the People’s Environmental Week began with a campaign at the Car Free Day location in Serang city. The campaign at the Car Free Day location was an effort to convey the message to the public that Indonesia has a disaster emergency. This campaign action involved representatives from WALHI, Pena Masyarakat, Dompet Dhuafa and a number of communities.

Some of the communities that participated in this action included KMPLHK RANITA UIN Jakarta, KMS 30, IPNU Serang Regency, UNTIRTA students, UIN Banten students, UPG students, and individual environmental activists.

Various data states that environmental problems in Banten include flooding every rainy season, marine sand mining, and the unresolved waste problem. Meanwhile, population growth and urbanization have increased the volume of waste, and landfills in Banten have exceeded capacity.

Waste management is so poor that it causes soil and water pollution and health problems for local residents. Rivers like the Ciujung and Cisadane are polluted by industrial waste, and toxic waste from industries in Tangerang and Cilegon threaten water resources.

Pollution from industrial and household waste eventually damaged the quality of sea water and the health of marine biota, including damage to coral reefs and marine ecosystems (especially mangrove damage). Not only that, sand mining activities in Serang and Lebak cause erosion, sedimentation, and habitat loss.

In terms of infrastructure development such as toll roads and housing, it often ignores environmental aspects, causing changes in land use and damage to natural ecosystems. (Dompet Dhuafa/DMC)

Text: Arifian Fajar Putera, Riza Muthohar
Photo: Arifian Fajar Putera
Editor: Dhika Prabowo