Hasanuddin University (Unhas) has implemented a location-specific watershed management strategy that integrates ecosystem conservation, habitat restoration, and scientific research to protect the diversity of aquatic species across freshwater and riparian environments in South Sulawesi. The strategy recognizes that each watershed possesses distinct hydrological conditions, topography, and endemic aquatic biodiversity, requiring tailored management rather than a uniform approach.

In alignment with Unhas through Master Plan 2018-2030 and later be updated thorugh Circular Letter 59419/UN4.1/PR.00.00/2024, Hasanuddin University (Unhas) has proactively implemented a comprehensive watershed management strategy on its campus, designed to address the specific ecological characteristics and biodiversity of its surrounding aquatic ecosystems. A core component of the strategy is the protection of aquatic habitats through green infrastructure. Within the Unhas campus, 47.123 hectares of Green Open Space (31.83% of total land area) function as a watershed buffer that enhances water infiltration, reduces runoff, and sustains a 9.763-hectare lake system supporting diverse freshwater flora and fauna. This integrated landscape approach improves water quality while maintaining ecological connectivity for aquatic species.

Beyond the campus, Unhas applies watershed-specific conservation measures in ecologically sensitive river basins. In Tompobulu Village, the Department of Soil Science implemented riparian restoration through community-based tree planting along riverbanks to reduce erosion, stabilize stream channels, improve water quality, and restore habitats for aquatic organisms. The initiative combines ecological rehabilitation with local stakeholder participation, strengthening long-term watershed resilience.

Unhas also develops species-centered watershed management for endemic freshwater biodiversity. In the Tilanga spring watershed of Tana Toraja, researchers from the Aquatic Ecotoxicology Research Group conduct conservation of the endemic ricefish Oryzias eversi, a species found only in this unique freshwater ecosystem. Management actions include habitat monitoring, water quality assessment, laboratory breeding (ex situ domestication), and protection from invasive species, ensuring that watershed conservation directly addresses the ecological requirements of location-specific aquatic fauna.

Complementing freshwater initiatives, Unhas has expanded its watershed management to estuarine and coastal catchments through the GreenWave 2025 program. Led by the Society of Renewable Energy (SRE) Unhas, the initiative restores degraded mangrove ecosystems by planting native mangrove species selected according to local tidal and sediment conditions. Mangroves serve as critical nursery habitats for fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic organisms while reducing coastal erosion, improving water quality, and strengthening the ecological function of river mouths where watersheds meet the sea. The program also incorporates environmental education and community participation to ensure the long-term sustainability of coastal biodiversity 

At the regional scale, Unhas contributes scientific expertise for ecosystem-based watershed planning through partnerships with local governments. The university supports the development of spatial planning for the Mahakam Ulu Watershed and conducts hydrological research in the Paremang Watershed, identifying land-use change, reduced infiltration, and flood risk as key drivers affecting aquatic ecosystems. These studies provide evidence for watershed restoration and sustainable land management that safeguard freshwater biodiversity.

Through these interconnected initiatives—green watershed infrastructure, riparian restoration, endemic species conservation, and ecosystem-based watershed planning—Unhas demonstrates a comprehensive watershed management strategy that is explicitly based on the location-specific diversity of aquatic species and supports the long-term conservation of freshwater ecosystems.