ULM Students Conduct Coral Transplantation and Ecobrick Education in Sungai Dua Laut Village

Tanah Bumbu – Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) continues to encourage students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings through the Impactful Village Development Program. One of the implementations is realized through a program entitled “Empowering Coastal Communities through Coral Transplantation and Ecobrick-based Plastic Waste Management” which is implemented by cross-faculty students in Sungai Dua Laut Village, Sungai Loban District, Tanah Bumbu Regency.

The program was implemented on January 7–8, 2026, by a team of 15 students from the Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, the Faculty of Engineering, and the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, under the guidance of Field Supervisor (DPL) Nursalam, S.Kel., M.S.

The group leader, Disma Peranita, explained that the program stemmed from the village’s coastal environment, which has significant marine resource potential but faces challenges such as coral reef damage and the accumulation of plastic waste.

“We see the marine potential in this village is very good, but there is coral damage and a lot of plastic waste. If the marine environment is not protected, marine life will also be affected. Therefore, we want to help improve the marine ecosystem through coral transplantation and reduce plastic waste through ecobricks,” he said.

Before designing the activities, the student team first conducted a field survey on December 10, 2025, observing coastal conditions, and discussing with village officials and local residents.

“The program we developed is truly based on community needs. From the observations and discussions, coral reef rehabilitation and plastic waste management are indeed primary needs,” explained Disma.

However, the team also noted that implementing the ecobrick program faced challenges because most housewives in the village also work, limiting their free time to process waste into ecobricks.

During the implementation, the students provided education on the importance of coral reefs, installed planting media, and planted coral seedlings using the brick block method. In addition, they provided outreach and training on ecobrick making, from sorting plastic waste to using ecobricks as functional products such as benches and plant pots.

“The skills we learned at university, such as environmental management, program planning, teamwork, and community communication, are truly put to use here. This isn’t just theory, but hands-on practice in the field,” he added.

During the program, students stayed overnight in the village to save time and money, considering the 5-6 hour travel time from the ULM campus.

Disma stated that the community response to the program was quite positive, although participation was still limited. Fishermen and village youth participated in coral transplantation activities, while women and children participated in ecobrick training.

During its implementation, the coral transplantation program encountered challenges, including determining the appropriate location for coral reef rehabilitation. However, these obstacles can be overcome with the help of local fishermen who understand the condition of the village waters.

For the students, this program provided contextual learning experiences and strengthened soft skills such as communication, social adaptation, and problem-solving. Meanwhile, for the community, it is hoped that awareness of marine ecosystem preservation and sustainable waste management will increase.

“We hope this coral transplantation site can continue to be maintained and developed. We also plan to monitor coral development. Although time and cost constraints remain, we remain in communication with the village to monitor progress,” said Disma.

The ULM Impact Village Development Program demonstrates Lambung Mangkurat University’s commitment to providing experiential learning and direct student contributions to community development. ULM encourages program sustainability through collaboration with village governments and communities so that the impact of the activities does not stop at one implementation period but continues to grow as a model for coastal community empowerment based on higher education.