Digital Mangrove Initiator Gets Kalpataru Environmental Award

TheIndonesia.id - The initiator of digital mangroves in the Telok Berdiri Mangrove Ecotourism in Sungai Kupah Village, Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan, Rudi Hartono, received the 2022 Kalpataru award from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK). The 2022 Kalpataru Award is given to 10 people in Indonesia.

"Alhamdulillah, and it is certainly a joint pride to have received the 2022 Kalpataru award which is the highest award in the environmental field from the KLHK," said Rudi Hartono when contacted at Kubu Raya, Friday, July 22, 2022.

The three award recipients were for the environmental pioneer category, two for the environmental service category, three for the environmental savior, and two for environmental advisors. Rudi Hartono himself received an award for the environmental pioneer category.

“I never thought I would get this award. This is thanks to the hard work of the youth and community of Sungai Kupah Village and is a gift for Kubu Raya's 15th anniversary," said Hartono.

According to him, the existing achievements cannot be separated from the hard work of other Sungai Kupah Village youths and the support from the village, district, and provincial governments as well as all stakeholders. They struggle with him to protect nature through reforestation of mangroves and the environment as well as the management of waste coir waste into planting media.

"We also thank the Sungai Kupah Village Government, the Governor of West Kalimantan Mr. Sutarmidji and the local governments, the Kubu Raya District Government Mr. Muda Mahendrawan, as well as all parties who have provided support and assistance, so that we can consistently protect nature and the environment until now," he said.

He hopes that the Kalpataru award will be a motivation for young village people to protect nature through planting mangroves and converting waste into rupiah. With this, it can also increase job vacancies for youth and communities in the village.

"In the future, our program will develop plastic waste to be used as paving blocks because there is a lot of plastic waste along the coast of Muara, Sungai Kupah Village," said Hartono.

He will also optimize mangrove nurseries, manufacture polybags from woven, process coconut coir waste into paving blocks, and digitalize mangrove planting.

The 2022 Kalpataru Award was handed over directly by Deputy Minister Alue Dohong. In his speech, Deputy Minister Alue Dohong said, this award is a form of government appreciation to regional leaders and environmental fighters who have become the spearhead/ front line in efforts to restore and manage the environment and forestry in Indonesia.

This award is routinely given by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, to those who have been shown to have a concern, commitment, initiative, innovation, motivation, and creativity in a sustainable manner, so that they have a positive impact on the economy, society, and environment.

"The award-winning environmental leaders and fighters are expected to be examples, inspirations, and triggers that encourage the initiative and participation of other individuals or community groups more broadly," he said.