Hasanuddin University’s Commitment to Ecosystem and Biodiversity Conservation

Hasanuddin University works directly with communities, government, and industry to maintain and extend ecosystems and their biodiversity. The focus is practical action in places under pressure, guided by research and followed by on site implementation. Mangrove rehabilitation, turtle habitat restoration, seaweed based ecosystem services, and responsible use of artificial reefs are all advanced through workshops, field labs, and multi-party collaboration.

Coastal vegetation is restored by community hands. A workshop on coastal rehabilitation in Makassar moved from class to field in the same programme, ending with hands-on planting of mangroves at Untia. Participants learned site selection, nursery handling, and follow up monitoring so the planting would not stop at a photo session. The message was clear. Mangroves protect shorelines, provide nursery habitat, and store carbon, and communities can maintain them with simple routines. 

Species conservation is handed over with a plan for continuity. After a three year project in the Balabalakang Islands, Unhas formally transferred a turtle habitat programme to the Provincial Government of West Sulawesi. The program combined coral and seagrass rehabilitation to support nesting and feeding, community engagement for protection, and a roadmap so local agencies can continue patrol, monitoring, and education after the research phase.

Seaweed development strengthens both livelihoods and ecosystem function. Unhas, the South Sulawesi Provincial Government, and the Australia–Indonesia PAIR initiative are advancing seaweed as a tool for clean growth. The approach treats seaweed as both an economic engine and a natural biofilter that supports healthy coastal ecosystems. The collaboration links farmer training, low waste technology, and reduced plastic use in cultivation so farms filter water and avoid adding new pollutants.  

Capacity to restore underwater habitats is built through shared learning. Unhas hosted a workshop on marine ecosystem recovery that brought together lecturers, students, practitioners, and officials. Sessions covered assessment of degraded sites, options for restoration, and simple monitoring that communities can maintain. By pairing presentations with open discussion, the event helped translate science into methods people can apply in their own waters. 

Artificial reefs are introduced with education on their responsible use. In collaboration with partner universities from China, Unhas delivered training on when and how to use artificial structures to support fisheries without harming natural reefs. The curriculum stressed site suitability, no-take zones around new modules to allow colonisation, and data recording so communities can see what works and adapt placement rules over time. 

What ties these initiatives together is the mix of research and field practice. Mangrove plots come with follow up checks, turtle beaches with community protocols, seaweed training with cleaner cultivation guides, and reef modules with monitoring forms. This combination reduces the risk that projects fade after launch and builds local ownership for long term care.

Partnerships make the work durable. Provincial agencies take the lead after handover, village groups handle routine tasks, and universities provide methods and mentoring. Industry and donor partners add resources and technology where appropriate. This arrangement spreads responsibilities in a way that fits daily rhythms of fishing, farming, school schedules, and local governance. 

The immediate benefits are visible. Eroded shorelines gain a living buffer, nesting sites are protected and watched, nearshore waters receive the filtration benefit of seaweed lines set up with less plastic, and fish communities begin to return where artificial modules are placed with care. Each site becomes a demonstration of what steady, shared work can deliver for biodiversity. 

Unhas will continue to align research with engagement so threatened ecosystems receive the attention and care they need. With practical training, clear handovers, and open reporting, communities can maintain restored areas and extend them over time. This is how direct work on the coast and small islands becomes lasting protection for plants, animals, and the people who depend on them. 

14.3.3 Maintain ecosystems and their biodiversity (direct work)