Social Anthropology Program of FIB Unud Holds Tree Planting Action and Book Donation for Environmental Conservation in Besan Village

• By Admin
• Rabu, 28 Oktober 2026

KLUNGKUNG – The Social Anthropology Program, Faculty of Humanity, Udayana University (FIB Unud), conducted a community service activity in Besan Village, Dawan District, Klungkung Regency, Bali, on Thursday, October 22, 2026. This initiative was realized through a tree-planting action at the foothills of Abah Hill (Bukit Abah) alongside the donation of natural science books to support the development of the Forest Library (Perpustakaan Hutan) in the village.

 

Social Anthropology is a one-semester short-term educational program attended by students from Norway. Beyond studying the social and cultural life of the Balinese people, this program provides participants with the opportunity to understand environmental challenges through direct engagement with local communities.

 

This community service initiative was prompted by growing concerns over the increasingly dry environmental conditions at the foothills of Abah Hill. The decline in forest vegetation has become a pressing ecological issue, particularly as it correlates with reduced water availability and the drying up of several river streams in Besan Village. This situation highlights the urgent need for sustainable environmental restoration efforts that actively involve the local community.

 

Working alongside Osila, a local environmental conservation activist, the Social Anthropology team of FIB Unud planted several tree species, including banyan (beringin), kluwek (pangi / Pangium edule), and candlenut (kemiri). These tree varieties were selected in the hope of restoring vegetation cover, maintaining soil moisture, and supporting water catchment processes in the area. This planting activity marks an initial step in long-term environmental conservation that requires continuous care and community involvement.

 

In addition to reforestation efforts, the team handed over a collection of natural science books covering topics such as forest, river, and marine ecosystems, as well as human anatomy. The donation is intended to support the development of the Forest Library as an alternative learning space for the community, particularly for children and youth. Through this library, knowledge acquired from books is expected to be directly connected with hands-on observation of nature.

 

The series of activities continued with a field visit to traditional Balinese sugar farmers in Besan Village. This visit served as a contextual learning medium for the students to witness firsthand the sustainability of one of the village community's traditional livelihoods. The students gained insights into the craftsmanship, work processes, and the close relationship between natural resource utilization and the local economy.

 

During the visit, the students also observed the extraction process of coconut sap (nira kelapa)—a sweet liquid obtained by tapping coconut blossoms (mayang) and used as the primary raw material for making Balinese palm sugar. The participants had the opportunity to taste the freshly harvested sap, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the raw ingredient of Balinese sugar not merely through verbal explanation, but also through direct sensory experience.

 

Through this combination of tree planting, book donations, and visits to Balinese sugar farmers, students of the Social Anthropology Program of FIB Unud gained a holistic learning experience that integrates ecological awareness with socio-cultural understanding. This activity further reaffirms the importance of collaboration between higher education institutions and local communities in preserving the environment, supporting nature-based education, and sustaining traditional livelihoods in Besan Village.