Involving children in nature conservation

Jakarta Post, Indonesia

During a Sunday afternoon in March, a cool breeze blew in a grove near the edge of the riverbank as 23 primary schoolchildren walked along to observe nature in the Ciliwung Conservation Area in Kebon Pucung, Balekambang, Condet.

A guide told them about local environmental conditions; this was followed by a dialog on garbage disposal near the river and the causes of landslides.

The students were later divided into four groups, each assigned to plant several trees on the open land, only about five to 10 meters away from the muddy Ciliwung. They readily and eagerly opened plastic bags containing seedlings of banana, duku and sapodilla, carefully placing the young plants in the ground while ignoring their dirty hands and shoes.

Called A Tree for a Child, the activity continued for three hours, with 15 trees being planted. The participants, who came from primary schools in Cipinang, East Jakarta, and Penjaringan, North Jakarta, were coordinated by Ibis-Accor Hotel and were guided by young people living in Ciliwung settlements in Balekambang.

Kunkun Julia, administration manager of the hotel, said the tree-planting activity was fostered by the hotel as a form of introduction to conservation in the natural environmental for city children.

Environmental restoration through replanting is a program of the Environment Community Forum (WKLH) of Condet; it is a form of concrete action to rehabilitate the ecosystem of the Ciliwung River.

“We have involved children in this replanting program,” said Budi Setija, secretary of WKLH-Condet. In this way, children will also familiarize themselves with local conditions like landslides along riverbanks and the accumulation of rubbish as topics for further discussion of their causes and effects in seeking solutions.

According to Budi, also an environment activist of Bank Indonesia Academy’s Nature Lover Students (MAPALABI), the program includes entertaining and beneficial activities with the support of facilitators.

“We also organize the release of fish into Ciliwung for visitors to the conservation area,” he added. The fish are expected to reproduce, which will draw people to go angling and give benefit to local residents. The river, he said, had thus far served as a repository for household waste so the restoration was aimed at introducing river ecotourism in the long term.

The same area also offers a one-kilometer nature education and Observation Route that passes through a bamboo forest, salak and banana plantations and finally a riverside garbage disposal site.

Visitors may also observe reptile dens and follow the tracks of these animals. This route is therefore most suited to primary school and kindergarten children.

Another alternative offered by Condet’s river conservation area is Sawung, an acronym for Sekolah Alam Ciliwung, or the Ciliwung Nature School. Alan Jaelani, a teacher of the school, said the subjects included forests, rivers, waste treatment, flora and fauna, as well as leadership and waste-based handicraft making.

“The school opens once a week on Fridays, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., with primary schoolchildren as students,” he added.

For the initial phase this school lasts from March through June. “As it is managed on a voluntary basis, no fees are imposed and no honoraria paid to teachers, who are environmental activists,” said Alan, who comes from the Indonesian Environment Lovers’ Action Group (KANCIL-Indonesia).

Sawung students, who simply need to bring notebooks and pens with them, have so far come only from Condet.

Apart from class instruction, the subjects are also taught via interactive discussion, direct observation, field activities and educational games, as a unique form of learning-while-playing education.

This is in conformity with the nature school’s motto: Playing, learning and working”.

(Bambang Parlupi)