A group of students receiving the Bintang Mandiri Scholarship initiated a social project focused on mangrove conservation titled “Green Coast Baros” in the Baros Mangrove Forest area, located in Tirtohargo, Kretek, Bantul, Special Region of Yogyakarta.

The initiative was carried out by awardees of the 5th cohort of the Bintang Mandiri Scholarship from Bank Mandiri, as part of their contribution to preserving coastal ecosystems while also empowering local communities.

The project was led by Melisa Sekarlina Putri Dayani, a Biology Education student from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta. She explained that the program was designed not only to focus on environmental conservation but also to promote a collaborative approach involving multiple stakeholders, including local communities, mangrove area managers, regional government, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The implementation team consisted of five scholarship recipients from various universities across Indonesia, including three students from UNY, alongside participants from Universitas Mataram and Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara. This cross-institutional collaboration highlights the collective commitment of young people to addressing environmental and social challenges.

Beyond conservation efforts, the program also emphasized community empowerment through economic initiatives. By engaging local MSMEs and promoting sustainable coastal-based economic activities, the project aimed to create long-term benefits for residents living around the mangrove ecosystem.

The mangrove conservation effort is particularly significant given the role of mangroves in protecting coastal areas from erosion, supporting biodiversity, and mitigating the impacts of climate change. Activities such as mangrove planting and environmental education were conducted to raise awareness and encourage community participation in preserving the coastal environment.

Through this initiative, the students demonstrated how academic programs and scholarship recipients can actively contribute to real-world solutions. The Green Coast Baros project serves as a model of integrated action that combines environmental conservation, education, and socio-economic development in a sustainable framework.

This initiative contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through experiential learning and community education; SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through local economic empowerment; SDG 13 (Climate Action) through mangrove conservation and climate mitigation efforts; SDG 14 (Life Below Water) by protecting coastal and marine ecosystems; and SDG 15 (Life on Land) through ecosystem preservation and restoration.