UNAIR NEWS – Reforestation is an essential aspect of air quality improvement. However, deforestation and widespread exploitation are serious issues that must be addressed.
If this phenomenon left unchecked, it will cause global warming and worsen air quality. Water and land may also be polluted if there is not any concern for the environment.
The City Government of Surabaya and Balikpapan have explored cooperation with Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) on reforestation. There was UNAIR Rector Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nasih, SE., MT, Ak., CMA, Mayor of Surabaya Dr. Ir. Tri Rismaharini, MT, and Mayor of Balikpapan, H.M. Rizal Effendi, S.E.
UNAIR Rector Prof. Nasih said that the reforestation program was the right step to prevent global warming and improve the quality of air, water, and soil. UNAIR Biology students can also use the planted trees for research and learning activities.
“This program is also an excellent character education to concern for and love the environment. We call this planted tree a foster tree that will be regularly maintained and monitored, “he said.
There will be parks and gardens built behind the Faculty of Pharmacy building. They will function as green open space, and fruit tree plants can later be used for the experiments or research of Biology students. On that occasion, Prof. Nasih also had the opportunity to cross red and white longan, which later became red and white longan tree.
Mayor of Balikpapan H.M. Rizal Effendi explained that the collaboration with the UNAIR research center would be very beneficial for both parties. This collaboration is expected to bring a significant impact on reforestation both in Surabaya and Kalimantan.
“We in East Kalimantan are afraid of losing green plants due to rampant deforestation, exploitation, and coal mining. Therefore, today, I brought six trees from Balikpapan, one of which is durian lay, which only exists in Kalimantan. Hopefully, it will be a representation of a small forest of Borneo in UNAIR, because the trees that I have brought here started to become scarce, “he said.
City Government of Balikpapan has provided Balikpapan botanical garden covering an area of 300 hectares which is a wet tropical forest for many animals and plants such as orangutans, proboscis monkeys, monkeys, green vegetation from Kalimantan with 2200 other plants.
Hopefully, all types of plants in Balikpapan Botanical Gardens can be the object of research by UNAIR academics and researchers. In the future, the collaboration will continue to be improved to obtain the best results.
Meanwhile, Mayor of Surabaya Tri Rismaharini explained that a smart program carried out by UNAIR should be done in many other regions because it improves air quality. The reforestation is also able to prevent flooding and deteriorating soil quality or drought.
“We must go into society by taking actions such as reforestation because basically the earth needs treatment like reforestation, so do not ignore the earth, but love it by taking care of it, ” she concluded.
According to Risma, the tree planted by UNAIR is a tree that is rarely found, so she is also interested in planting these tree species in Surabaya city forest and inviting the public to participate in planting trees to improve the air quality. (*)
Author: Wildan Suyuti Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
