On 12-15 July 2022, Lecturer at the Faculty of Biology UGM Akbar Reza, M.Sc and Puji Lestari, S. Hut, M.Sc lecturers at the Department of Biology and Veterinary Technology at the UGM Vocational School carried out research and community service activities in Kotabaru, South Kalimantan, particularly Hilir Muara Village and Gedambaan Village. The activity which is a cross-sectoral collaboration between the Social Development Studies Center (SODEC) UGM, Faculty of Biology UGM, PT. Mubadala Energy, Kotabaru Polytechnic and the local government have been implementing this since 2020. Activities in Hilir Muara Village focus on empowering coastal communities with main assistance to Pokdarlis (Environmental Awareness Group), UMKM (Hilir Muara Cinta Bumi), and Waste Bank. Some of the programs initiated include greenhouses establishment for plants with economic value and native of Kalimantan, optimizing composters, including initiating collaboration with BUMDES and assisting BPOM’s licensing process for UMKM. These programs were initiated out of concern for the sustainability of coastal ecosystems which actually provide high ecosystem services, especially in the face of the climate crisis. Furthermore, the waste problem is also a problem for coastal areas which, apart from reducing aesthetics, also has the potential to cause long-term health problems.
Community Services
On Saturday, June 3, 2023, the PCM MBKM-2023 team that includes students of Faculty Biology UGM, namely Rahmi Qurrota Aeni, Nala Azkiya, Lena Mardiana, Nurrisma Ika Lestari, and Kanya Nabila Febrirani with supervisor Mrs. Dwi Umi Siswanti, S. Si., M.Sc. has carried out the implementation of Independent Learning Campus Merdeka (MBKM) activities in the Klayar Tourism Village. This program was carried out to improve the economy of the Klayar Farmer Group in Kedungpoh Village, Nglipar Gunung Kidul, together with Mr. Didik Purnomo as the MBKM partner. This activity continues last year’s community service program on organic chrysanthemum cultivation. However, this year, we use shallots as plants to be cultivated.
MBKM-PkM activities was started by distributing questionnaires on Saturday and Sunday of 20 and 21 May 2023 to the residents of Dusun Pajangan using the door-to-door method. The aim of the questionnaire was to find out the community’s understanding of degenerative diseases, the condition of vacant lands in Dusun Pajangan, as well as the potential of medicinal and vegetable plants to prevent degenerative diseases. Through distributing this questionnaire, 40 respondents were found with an age range of 15-69 years. Among them, 33 respondents had never heard of degenerative diseases. Based on these results, we found out that most residents of Pajangan think that an unhealthy lifestyle and stress are the main triggers of degenerative diseases. Then, based on the several examples of degenerative diseases mentioned, people are more familiar with high blood pressure (hypertension) and diabetes mellitus, while 7 of them did not know the examples of degenerative diseases. Furthermore, through distributing this questionnaire, it was revealed that there were several vacant lands in Dusun Pajangan, most of which had not been used optimally other than for gardening and for waste disposal. In addition, we also obtained data that 29 out of 40 respondents already knew about medicinal and vegetable plants, plant samples, and some of their uses. Most people in Dusun Pajangan also use medicinal plants as herbal medicine.
Community Service Program at the Faculty of Biology UGM with coordinator Sukirno, S.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. has been started since 2020 through the MBKM Community Service Program to Build Villages. After preparation and initiation since 2020, in 2021 the program will progress gradually with a strong commitment from all village officials spearheaded by Mr. Supriyanto, S.Pd. (Kebonalas Village Head), Mr. Suwadi, S.Pd. (Village Secretary), Mr. Robani, S.TP. (Chairman of the BPD) and members, Mr. Sunardi as the head of the sub-village, Mrs. Mulati and Mr. Junarko as the Maju Makmur BUMDES with assistance from the MBKM Membangun Desa, Faculty of Biology UGM proposed Kebonalas as a Fruit Plant-based Tourism Village to the Klaten District Government. The submission will be carried out in November 2022, and then undergo an assessment in the field on January 11, 2023 by the Youth Culture and Sports and Tourism Office.
In order to introduce waste management techniques, the team of Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat – Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (PkM MBKM) Faculty of Biology 2023 chaired by Rina Sri Kasiamdari, S.Si., Ph.D. and involved two students namely Galuh Kirana Mahadewi and Laila Uswatun Chasanah have carried out activities related to organic waste management in Dusun Kepuh Kulon RT 001, Wirokerten, Banguntapan, Bantul. This activity is planned to take place in 2 semesters, starting with a socialization event which have been held on Sunday 14 May 2023 from 09.00 to 10.30 WIB at the house of the neighborhood head of RT 001, Mr. Zamzuri. This socialization activity was attended by 15 participants of RT 001 and the head of Hamlet. In her greetings, Ms. Rina said that the MBKM PkM activity was the second year of the MBKM PkM Program at RT 001 Kepuh Kulon. The Waste Management theme is a program that is expected to be applied by people in their homes or in their environment. Head of the hamlet, Mr. Sunartana conveyed the importance of household-scale waste management. This is because a lot of garbage has accumulated in various places due to garbage dumps that can no longer accommodate waste. In this socialization activity, it was explained the meaning of waste, types of waste, examples, as well as how to process waste into more useful items.
The Laboratory of Plant Structure and Development of the Faculty of Biology UGM has carried out community service activities in the form of socializing the introduction of microscopes and plant anatomical structures, especially the derivatives of the epidermis of stomata and trichomes at Pusmalang Elementary State School, Wukirsari, Cangkringan, Kab. Sleman, D.I. Yogyakarta. This activity was carried out on October 10, 2022 with 21 grade 5 students. This community service activity from this lab is different from the previous year, when previous schools visited the laboratory but this year the laboratory staff made direct visits to schools.
The community service program in Klayar Hamlet, Kedung Poh Village, Gunung Kidul Regency is one of the Independent Learning Community Service programs for the Faculty of Biology in 2021. This activity is a follow-up program from the first period of service program in 2020, which is the production and application of biofertilizers for cayenne pepper commodities. The second period carries the theme of developing organic chrysanthemum cultivation as a form of enrichment for tourist spots in Klayar Ecotourism and as a basic ingredient for food diversification in the form of chrysanthemum tea and chrysanthemum leaf chips.
The Gama Wader Team from the Faculty of Biology conducted a Community Service Program socialization in the Imogiri district, Bantul Regency. This activity was held on Friday 29 July 2022. In this activity, the Gama Wader Team socialized about wader fish cultivation to the local community. The Gama Wader Team departed from the Faculty of Biology at 1.00 p.m and arrived at the location at 2.09 p.m.
The first activity took place at 02.15 p.m. which is the opening by the 2022 Community Service Program committee team. The committee team explained about Gama Wader and continued with a brief explanation about wader fish. At 02.16 p.m. the Gama Wader team introduced themselves and delivered material about wader ray fish farming to the public.
The PkM-MBKM team of the Faculty of Biology, UGM, chaired by Mr. Sukirno, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D. with four student members, namely Amelia Rifki Alifiah, Fatika Soraya, Tiara Rachma Jatiningtyas, and Qonita Fillah, held a FGD (Focus Group Discussion) with the Kebonalas Village which was held on 22 and 29 October 2022. This event is one of a series of MBKM programs in to develop Fruit Garden Tourism Village in Kebonalas. This activity took place in Kebonalas Village with ± 15 participants. The FGD was attended by Mr. Supriyanto, S.Pd. (Village Head), Mr. Suwadi, S.Pd. (Village Secretary), Mr. Sunardi (Village Treasurer), Mrs. Sri Mulati (Director of BUMDES), Mr. Junarko (BUMDES Treasurer), Mr. Kuncoro (Secretary of BUMDES), Mr. Muh. Robani, S.T.P. (Chairman of the Village Consultative Body), Mr. Yousuf Sulaiman, S.IP. (Fruit Practitioner), and the four MBKM students.
The MBKM Team, Faculty of Biology UGM, chaired by Sukirno, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D. with four student members, namely Amelia Rifki Alifiah, Fatika Soraya, Tiara Rachma Jatiningtyas, and Qonita Fillah on Sunday, 18 September 2022, held a Catfish Cultivation and Digital Marketing Training in Kebonalas Village, Manisrenggo, Klaten. This event is one of a series of MBKM programs to develop Fruit Garden Village in Kebonalas. This activity took place at the RW hall in Kebonalas at 09.00 s.d. 12.30 WIB and attended by 31 participants consisting of representatives of the Kebonalas Village community. At this event, there was socialization and direct practice by the village community regarding catfish cultivation and the small scale production of alternative feeds as well as digital marketing training.