Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability by planting mangrove trees along the coastal area of Pasir Mendit Beach in Jangkaran, Temon, Kulon Progo, on Sunday, October 12, 2025.

This initiative is part of UNY's ongoing efforts to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land), as well as to contribute to the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking, which assesses universities' commitment to sustainability.

On Sunday, April 27, 2025, a number of students from the Department of Biology Education - Yogyakarta State University traveled to Bangsring-Banyuwangi, in order to conduct field studies and collect marine data in the coastal waters of Banyuwangi - Bali Strait and Tabuhan Island. Assisted by colleagues from Banyuwangi Diving School, students collected a number of data for research studies on coral reefs and reef fish.

UNY shopping centers, Plaza UNY and Koperasi Mahasiswa UNY, also contribute to the aquatic ecosystem's long-term viability. The administrators of these two shopping complexes have implemented an appeal to limit the amount of plastic bags utilized for carrying shopping products. The appeal is placed near the checkout area in the hopes that all customers will notice and respond to it.

Rio Christy Handziko, S.Pd.Si., M.Pd, a lecturer at the Department of Biology Education of UNY, participated in the Faculty Mentoring Network - Online Content for Experiential Learning of Tropical Systems (FMN - OCELOTS) 2024. Rio Christy has been teaching courses related to tropical ecology and researching intensively in the field of Tropical Ecology.

Bangsring is a tourist destination on Java Island's east coast, bordering immediately with the Bali Strait. This place is referred to as Bunder, which means Bangsring Underwater. This tourism destination grew from a marine protected area (MPA) run by the Bangsring fishing community. The floating house manned by fellow Bangsring fisherman serves as a coral fish acclimation pool before they are discharged. Typically used as a preparation pool for both white-tip and black-tip reef shark species.

Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, in partnership with the Ministry of National Education, offers students chances to participate in MBKM activities, including the 2023 innovative research program. One of the student teams taking part in the 2023 MBKM innovative research activity is a Biology Education Department team made up of three students and one of their teachers.

In 2023, UNY introduced a dedicated garbage basket for spent mineral water bottles. This idea aims to train the UNY academic community to sort plastic garbage from the start of disposal. The basket for collecting discarded mineral water bottles is constructed of an iron frame divided by an iron wire mesh. This basket is purposefully constructed with merely an iron frame and iron wire so that discarded mineral water bottles tossed into it may be seen from the outside.

Sendang Mudal is a natural spring located in the center of a rice field in Sawangan, Magelang District, Central Jawa Province. This spring is utilized to water public pools and rice fields, and it continues to flow even during the dry season. The vital value of this spring is something we wish to preserve, thus the management of Sendang Mudal, with the collaboration of the Sawangan sub-district, requested that the UNY lecturer team undertake activities to educate the community on how to preserve the spring through direct action.

Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta's Department of Biology Education offers a course named Marine Biology. Students enrolled in the biology study program must take this course. This subject is taught in two ways: theoretically and through practicums in the lab and in the field. This activity is done out in the national park's waterways as part of the practicum activities.

The Faculty of Language, Arts and Culture of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta organized a social service outing for FBSB UNY International Students at Parangkusumo Beach. With the title "Beach Clean Up", this activity is a social service of beach cleaning, eco-bricking workshops and literacy-based fun activities with children around the beach.