DENPASAR, DEWATA.NEWS – Around 200 participants joined a mangrove exploration and coastal cleanup activity in Pemogan Village on Thursday (Feb 19), as part of the 238th anniversary celebrations of Denpasar City.
The event took place in the Batu Lumbang Dam Estuary mangrove area and focused on reducing plastic waste while raising environmental awareness among young people and local communities. Participants included senior high school and vocational students, university students, environmental groups, and youth community organizations from across Denpasar.
The initiative was organized by Denpasar’s Fisheries and Food Security Agency (DPKP) and aimed to support the preservation of the mangrove forest within the Ngurah Rai Forest Park (Tahura Ngurah Rai), one of Bali’s key coastal ecosystems.
Head of DPKP Denpasar, Ida Bagus Mayun Suryawangsa, emphasized that the activity was designed as more than a ceremonial event.
“We want to cultivate a sense of love for the environment from an early age, especially among students and young people, so they understand the significant potential and benefits of our coastal habitats,” he said.
According to the agency, the cleanup targeted plastic waste that has accumulated in the mangrove area. Maintaining a clean environment is considered essential to protect marine life and preserve the ecological function of mangroves as natural coastal buffers against erosion and tidal impacts.
The program is supported by several regulatory frameworks, including Law No. 32 of 2004 on Marine Affairs, Denpasar Regional Regulation No. 6 of 2019 on the Protection and Preservation of Bendega (traditional coastal guardians), and Denpasar Mayor Regulation No. 54 of 2025.
Funding for the activity came through a joint allocation from the 2026 Denpasar Regional Budget (APBD), the Pemogan Village Budget (APBDes), and support from the Segara Gunung Batu Lumbang Fisheries Business Group (KUB).
The event was attended by members of the regional leadership coordination forum (Forkopimda), representatives from the Bali Penida River Basin Agency (BWS Bali Penida), and local coastal community leaders.
For international residents and visitors in Bali, the mangrove forests around southern Denpasar play a vital role in environmental protection and marine biodiversity, particularly in areas close to popular coastal zones.