Tegalrejo, 11 December 2025

The production of natural TOGA soap from lemongrass by the Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat – Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (PkM-MBKM) team Faculty of Biology UGM 2025, chaired by Prof. Rina Sri Kasiamdari, S.Si., Ph.D. in the second phase of the PkM-MBKM program in Kepuh Kulon RT 001, Wirokerten, Banguntapan, Bantul through the production of soap using TOGA (Family Medicinal Plants) as raw material. This activity is a continuation of the PkM-MBKM program that was previously implemented from February to June 2025. The team involved five students, namely Swastikhansa Parahita Sulistyaningrum, Afrina Syah Putri, Isna Kuminingrum, Asitya Fitri Miadi, and Amyra Asa Nurhanifa, with the aim of increasing public awareness about the use of TOGA plants through the innovation of TOGA-based soap, especially lemongrass, which is easily available, as an effort to support skin health and can be used by various groups, including children. This event marked the fifth and final activity of the PkM-MBKM program in RT 001 Kepuh Kulon. It was held on Sunday, November 2, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the residence of the RT Head, Mr. Zamzuri. The event was enthusiastically attended and carried out by 20 society and Mr. Sunartono, the Head of Kepuh Kulon Hamlet, who opened the event by emphasizing the importance of utilizing TOGA for family health and encouraging residents’ independence in continuing the program of making natural soap from easily available TOGA. Prof. Rina also highlighted the benefits of the innovative soap made from lemongrass and olive oil, which is safe for children and healthy for the skin, while stressing the importance of community solidarity in enhancing creativity and the local economy.

The community service activities included socialization on making lemongrass soap and practicing making natural soap from lemongrass, as well as socialization on digital marketing. The socialization on making lemongrass soap was carried out by providing information on what medicinal plants are, their uses, their contents and benefits when used as ingredients for natural soap (lemongrass), the tools and materials needed, and how to make the soap. The digital marketing socialization was carried out by providing information about the objectives of digital marketing, creating an account on one of the online selling platforms, how to sell online, and tips on how to make products known to the wider community. After the workshop, there will be a quiz for residents and door prizes will be given out. At the end of the activity, participating village partners will be given souvenirs as a token of appreciation for their participation.

The PkM-MBKM team provided a set of soap-making tools that are expected to be used for practice and as souvenirs as a form of appreciation or proof of participation for village partners. The 2025 PkM-MBKM program is expected to provide information on processing TOGA into products that are beneficial to health and can improve the community’s economy. This activity supports SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production.

ny families every year,and solutions that are practical, safe, and scalable can strengthen public health. The UGMstudents showed how young innovators from Indonesia can contribute ideas that make a realdifference on the global stage.

“Papua holds the greatest diversity of freshwater crayfish in the world, yet many species remain scientifically undescribed,” said Rury Eprilurahman.

“Our goal is to help establish a valid taxonomic foundation while promoting the protection of these increasingly vulnerable species,” he added.

New Species from Papua’s Hidden Rivers

The seven newly described species originate from various remote regions of West Papua:

1. Cherax veritas — Misool Island, Raja Ampat

2. Cherax arguni and Cherax kaimana — northern Kaimana district

3. Cherax nigli — southern Kaimana

4. Cherax bomberai — Fakfak

5. Cherax farhadii and Cherax doberai — Teluk Bintuni region

“These species can be clearly distinguished from each other, both morphologically and genetically,” the researchers wrote in their publication.

DNA Reveals Unique Lineages

To further validate their discoveries, the team performed mitochondrial DNA analyses using the 16S rRNA gene fragment.

Results revealed that the seven new species represent genetically distinct lineages, supporting their classification as separate species.

“This is crucial, as some species may look deceptively similar. Without molecular analysis, we risk misinterpreting their evolutionary relationships,” Eprilurahman explained.

By combining classical morphology with molecular systematics, the researchers ensured a scientifically sound and responsible approach to species identification.

Aquarium Trade as a Starting Point

Intriguingly, some of the initial specimens were obtained through the aquarium trade.

“Many of these species first appeared in the aquarium hobby market in Europe or Jakarta,” Rury noted.

“From there, we traced their origins and collaborated with local contacts in Papua to confirm the natural habitats.”

While not ideal, the aquarium trade occasionally provides an early clue to the existence of undescribed species.

Nevertheless, Rury emphasized that all field sampling and data collection were conducted ethically and following conservation permits.

Vital for Conservation Efforts

This discovery is significant not only for taxonomy but also for conservation.

West Papua is a global hotspot for freshwater biodiversity, yet its ecosystems face mounting threats from deforestation, mining activities, infrastructure development, and illegal wildlife trade.

By enhancing the region’s species inventory, the findings will contribute to more targeted and effective conservation planning.

“If we don’t even know which species are present, how can we protect them?” Rury asked.

“With this knowledge, we can push for more sustainable management of freshwater habitats.”

Much More Yet to Be Discovered

While seven new species have now been formally described, the researchers believe Papua’s Cherax diversity is still vastly underexplored.

“Papua is incredibly vast. There are countless rivers, lakes, and cave systems that remain unexplored,” Rury said.

“I’m confident we will continue to discover new species in the future.”

The same team has previously described other species, including:

• Cherax warsamsonicus (2017)
• Cherax alyciae and Cherax mosessalossa (2018)
• Cherax wagenknechtae (2022)
• Cherax rayko and Cherax phing (2024)

This highlights Papua’s status as a global hotspot for freshwater crayfish diversity.

Continuing the Legacy of Holthuis

Since Holthuis pioneered the study of the world’s freshwater crayfish in the mid-20th century, modern tools like Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and advances in molecular systematics now offer unprecedented insights.

But fieldwork remains irreplaceable.

“There is no substitute for direct exploration in nature,” Rury emphasized.

“Papua still holds many mysteries, and we have only scratched the surface.”

Through a combination of field exploration, global collaboration, and rigorous science, today’s researchers — following in the footsteps of L.B. Holthuis — continue to unveil new chapters in our understanding of Indonesia’s extraordinary freshwater biodiversity.

Reference:

Lukhaup C., Eprilurahman R., von Rintelen T. (2025). Seven New Species of Crayfish of the Genus Cherax (Crustacea, Decapoda, Parastacidae) from Western New Guinea, Indonesia Arthropoda 3(2):10. https://www.mdpi.com/2813-3323/3/2/10