Singkawang, October 9, 2016. As a series of Earth Day commemoration momentum, April 2016, Inspirasi Kreatifitas Biak Singkawang (IKBS) again carried out planting activities and cleaning mangrove habitats from plastic waste. This activity was carried out as a form of IKBS's concern for the environment in Singkawang City, especially coastal areas that are vulnerable to abrasion.

The activity carried out in Kuala Village, West Singkawang District was attended by at least 200 participants consisting of related SKPD, Conservation Institutions, youth communities, students and the local community.

IKBS Chairman, Akhmad Maulana or who is familiarly called Olan, said that so far IKBS has been more engaged in the social field. However, since the commemoration of Earth Day, where at that time IKBS together with WWF Indonesia, the Singkawang City Government and the youth community in the city of Singkawang planted mangroves and other trees totaling 1,350 seedlings, it was deemed necessary to continue the momentum by continuing to carry the same theme, "We Care, We Act".

"From our monitoring, the condition of the mangrove forest on the coast of Kuala Singkawang Barat is quite alarming, plus there is a lot of plastic waste trapped in the area, we hope that the Kuala mangrove area can become a tourist destination for educational purposes in Singkawang city," he explained.

The planting this time involved more parties, including WWF-Indonesia, West Kalimantan Provincial Tourism and Creative Economy Office, Singkawang City Cleanliness Office, West Singkawang Sector Police, Cosplay Community, She Slay, WAFF, Beatbox, Mulsic, Community Academy Campus, STKIP and STIT Students, Sispala CAMAR and GUDEP Panji SMA Negri 1 Singkawang and the Kuala Singkawang community.

On the same occasion, the Head of Tourism Destination Development, Tourism and Creative Economy Office of West Kalimantan Province, Natalia Karyawati, appreciated the breakthrough made by IKBS, mobilizing the youth community to care about the surrounding environment by planting and cleaning in the coastal mangrove area of Singkawang city.

"This activity is a concrete manifestation in realizing the points in the Sapta Pesona element to increase tourism awareness for community-based tourism development," she explained.

According to Natalia, mangrove-based tourist destinations are still minimally available in West Kalimantan, even though the potential available is quite large. After Kubu Raya and Mempawah, we hope Singkawang can develop into one of the mangrove tourist destinations.

"IKBS can be a pioneer in the development of mangrove tourist destinations in Singkawang City, with good management planning, it is possible that the kuala area can develop into one of the mangrove tourist destinations in the future in accordance with the target of Sapta Pesona West Kalimantan", he continued.

Meanwhile, the Program Manager of WWF Indonesia West Kalimantan, Albertus Tjiu, who also attended this event stated that WWF Indonesia strongly supports efforts to save the mangrove area of the north coast of West Kalimantan. This is in synergy with WWF's strategy to encourage the rescue, conservation and management of West Kalimantan's green shield area in a multi-stakeholder manner. "The idea to mobilize the youth community in the restoration and cleaning of mangrove areas, is something that we need to appreciate well, so it needs to be supported by more parties," he explained.

"We hope that the planting of 1,000 mangrove seedlings this time, which is the second activity with IKBS after the Earth Day commemoration, can provide benefits to the Kuala Singkawang coastal community, and can raise residents' awareness of the importance of mangroves for coastal life", he explained.
"WWF also encourages the establishment of mangrove community networks on the north coast of West Kalimantan, by gathering mangrove activist groups in a discussion forum for the management and development of mangrove areas," he continued.

As a tourist destination city, Singkawang is expected to be able to improve area management, including mangroves. Increased public awareness to be more concerned about coastal areas, is the main capital in the development of tourism in the mangrove area.

"World Earth Day" which is celebrated annually on April 22, is expected to be an appropriate momentum to continue campaigning for the environment. As an effort to provide support that has a positive impact on city development by synergizing the roles of the community, youth and the Singkawang city government. HS.