WAMENA, PAPUA PEGUNUNGAN – The Papua Pegunungan Provincial Government encourages schools to be one of the first places to build the habits of the young generation in maintaining environmental sustainability through planting and taking care of trees.
The effort was carried out by the Papua Pegunungan Environment, Forestry and Land Service (DLHKP) as part of environmental education to the younger generation. The habit of protecting nature is considered necessary to be instilled from an early age so that caring for the environment can become a part of daily life.
Plt. Head of DLHKP Papua Pegunungan, Lince Kogoya, in a written statement in Wamena, Wednesday, said that tree planting activities can be the initial foundation to give children an understanding of the importance of maintaining ecosystem balance.
“The younger generation, especially schoolchildren, must be taught from an early age to plant and take care of trees so that they can help the government maintain the balance of nature in the Papua Mountains in the future,” he said.
According to Lince, greening activities do not have to be done on a large scale. Students starting from PAUD level to SMA/SMK can be involved in tree planting activities in an environment that is easy to reach, such as the yard of the house or school.
“Planting can be done in the yard or school yard, in order to provide positive education for our children in loving nature and the environment,” he said.
He assessed, the activity of planting trees will be more meaningful if it does not stop at the planting process, but continues with the activity of caring for and maintaining the plants until they grow properly. Thus, students can understand that maintaining the environment requires continuous care and responsibility.
In addition, the teacher’s role is considered important in forming these habits. Teachers are expected to not only provide theoretical understanding, but also invite students to be directly involved in simple activities related to environmental conservation.
“Teachers must be able to give understanding to their students in caring for, maintaining and preserving nature through planting trees,” said Lince.
DLHKP Papua Pegunungan hopes that the involvement of schools, families, and communities can expand environmental education among the younger generation. The habit of planting and taking care of trees from an early age is expected to form a long-term concern for the conservation of nature in mountainous Papua.
