Tree Seedling Planting in Sokokranen Hamlet, Pagergunung Village, Kendal, Central Java

Mr. Ardyan Pramudya Kurniawan, M.Si., a lecturer from the Biology Study Program at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, collaborated with 9 students from the 2015 and 2016 UIN Sunan Kalijaga cohorts to organize a Community Service activity with the theme of ‘Greening’ as an effort to preserve the environment in Sokokranen Hamlet, Pagergunung Village, Kendal, Central Java. This activity took place in July 2019, involving community members such as village officials, community leaders, and youth from Sokokranen Hamlet. The event was structured around five main concepts: land selection, seedling determination, planting techniques, care methods, and community engagement. The primary goal was to green the environment in the village. The activity was successful, as evidenced by the enthusiastic participation of community members who independently planted trees in their yards. The available tree species included the banyan tree (Ficus benjamina), known for its good water storage capacity and air quality improvement. In addition to greening efforts, there were awareness-raising sessions for the community regarding the importance of vegetation for the ecosystem. These sessions aimed to foster environmental consciousness, identify tree species suitable for improving the former sand mining areas, and establish an environmental monitoring group in Sokokranen Hamlet. The hope is that this initiative can continue with support from the village government, environmental agencies, and relevant institutions.