On December 21, 2025, Sobat Bumi UNY — a student environmental community from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) — carried out a mangrove planting activity at Baros Beach in Bantul Regency. The event was part of UNY’s commitment to preserving coastal ecosystems and raising environmental awareness among students and the wider public.

About 60 participants took part in the mangrove planting initiative, including UNY students, high school students, members of the 4K Yogyakarta community, Relawan Gesit Yogyakarta, Komunitas Mangrove Baros, and volunteers from various universities.

Sobat Bumi UNY is a student community supported by the Pertamina Foundation that focuses on environmental issues, climate change, and sustainable development through education, campaigns, and direct field action.

The activity began with an environmental education session presented by student Fitria Rizka Amalia, who emphasized the need for coastal disaster preparedness, including awareness of tsunamis and coastal erosion.

Participants also received technical guidance from representatives of the Yayasan Kelompok Tani Hutan Keluarga Pemuda Pemudi Baros, who shared practical instructions on proper mangrove planting: from selecting suitable seedlings and matching them to beach conditions, to planting techniques that help ensure healthy growth.

The mangrove planting activity supports several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 13 (Climate Action) through mitigation efforts, SDG 14 (Life Below Water) by protecting coastal ecosystems and marine life, and SDG 15 (Life on Land) by preserving biodiversity and coastal vegetation.

Prof. Darmono, mentor of the Sobat Bumi action, praised the initiative as an example of how students can act as agents of change, showing that academic excellence must be matched with social and environmental concern.

According to the event’s organizing chair, Yoga Mardiansyah, the mangrove planting was part of Sobat Bumi UNY’s ongoing efforts to contribute to coastal environmental protection. He said the theme for the action — “recover with nature: realizing a resilient and sustainable environment” — reflects the group’s hope that planted mangroves will grow and benefit future generations.