A significant step towards safeguarding Indonesia's natural heritage was recently taken at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Lambung Mangkurat University (FMIPA ULM). The "Mangifera casturi Conservation Campaign" was successfully held, mobilizing the academic community to focus on the preservation of the endemic Kalimantan mango, Mangifera casturi, a species now declared extinct in the wild.
This pivotal initiative was designed to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and tangible conservation action. The campaign's core mission was to ignite a sense of urgency and responsibility among the young generation—the future stewards of the environment. Students were engaged with comprehensive materials covering crucial conservation strategies, propagation techniques, and best practices for the maintenance and planting of Mangifera casturi.
Beyond the technical aspects, the campaign highlighted the profound ecological, economic, and cultural values of this unique species, emphasizing its role in the local ecosystem and its significance to the cultural identity of South Kalimantan.
"Shifting the narrative from extinction to recovery begins with awareness and empowered action. This campaign is a vital investment in our future, equipping students with the knowledge and passion to bring a piece of our natural heritage back from the brink," said a representative from the organizing committee.
The event encouraged participants not only to learn but also to become active agents of change, promoting local conservation actions that can contribute to the species' potential recovery.
The Mangifera casturi Conservation Campaign was made possible through the generous support of the The Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and the Biology Department of FMIPA ULM. This collaboration underscores the importance of partnerships between international conservation funders and local academic institutions in addressing the global biodiversity crisis.