Universitas Negeri Padang Conducts Mangrove Planting and Coastal Cleanup on Setan Island

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Universitas Negeri Padang (UNP) conducted a mangrove planting and coastal cleanup activity on Setan Island in the Mandeh tourism area, Pesisir Selatan Regency, West Sumatra Province, on August 2, 2026, to strengthen the protection of the local coastal ecosystem.

The activity was part of a community engagement program led by the university, with participants including the local environmental agency, the administrative body of Koto XI Tarusan District, village-owned enterprises, tourism awareness groups, youth communities, local residents, and tourists. Participants planted mangrove seedlings and collected plastic waste along the coastline. The activity aimed to improve the coastal environmental conditions while raising awareness among the local community and tourists about the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems.

Several UNP scholars and students took part in the initiative, including professors from environmental and related disciplines, PMDSU students, and doctoral students from the university's Environmental Science program.

Setan Island was chosen for the activity because of the important role its coastal ecosystem plays in protecting the shoreline from erosion. Mangrove vegetation helps maintain ecological functions and supports the balance between coastal and marine ecosystems. The coastal cleanup focused on plastic waste, which can enter the marine ecosystem, threaten coastal organisms, and reduce the environmental quality and attractiveness of the tourist destination.

UNP stated that the initiative goes beyond a one-time planting and cleanup activity, as the university hopes to encourage the local community and tourism managers to take a more active role in regional environmental maintenance over the long term. The initiative also reflects the role of higher education institutions in addressing environmental challenges through community-based, practical solutions. By combining ecosystem restoration, waste reduction, and public awareness raising, the project aims to support environmental protection and sustainable tourism development in the Mandeh area.

UNP noted that these activities contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 13 on Climate Action and SDG 14 on Life Below Water, through mangrove restoration, plastic waste reduction, and coastal ecosystem protection.