A total of 22 students from the Department of Physics at Yogyakarta State University (UNY), who are taking the “Sustainable Education and Development” course with their lecturer, Dr. Riko Septiantoko, M.Pd., carried out a sea screw pine (Pandanus tectorius) planting action at Pelangi Beach, Bantul, recently. This activity is part of the implementation of learning as well as a concrete contribution by the UNY academic community in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Sea screw pine was chosen because of its ability to prevent coastal abrasion and maintain the stability of coastal ecosystems, which are vulnerable to climate change and human activities. “Students should not only understand the theory of sustainable development. They must be directly involved, feel the process, and understand the urgency of protecting the environment,” said Dr. Riko Septiantoko while supervising the planting.

In addition to planting sea screw pine, participants also took part in sea turtle conservation education together with the team from the Yogyakarta Conservation Action Foundation (YAKY). This included presentations about the species of turtles in southern Java, the challenges to their habitat, and efforts for rehabilitation and turtle hatchling release with the local community. This session gave students a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between coastal ecosystems, flora and fauna, and the sustainability of coastal community life.

One of the participants, Nita, expressed that this activity gave her a direct experience that boosted her environmental awareness. “It was really fun to plant directly on the beach and see turtles in the conservation area. We become more aware that protecting nature is everyone’s responsibility,” she said.

This program aligns with the SDGs, especially Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Goal 15 (Life on Land), which emphasize the importance of environmental protection, ecosystem restoration, and the role of young people in building a sustainable future. The local community appreciated the activity and hoped that similar initiatives could continue to preserve the coastal environment in Bantul.