Help Preserve Marine Ecosystems, BCA Releases 50 Turtle Hatchlings on Banyuwangi Beach

Dream - Indonesia is rich in natural beauty. Great attention to the tourism sector has even succeeded in bringing new tourist destinations that offer extraordinary charm and experiences.

Among the new treasures are the beaches in Banyuwangi, East Java, which attract tourists from all over the world.

With soft white sand, clear blue sea water, and breathtaking ocean views, the beaches in Banyuwangi have become the main attraction for travelers seeking memorable vacations.

However, the beauty of the beaches also needs to be balanced with the preservation of the marine ecosystem. Not only the local community and government, but also the private sector such as PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA) takes initiative in preserving the marine ecosystem in Banyuwangi.

Releasing 50 Turtle Hatchlings

BCA initiated the release of 50 turtle hatchlings on Banyuwangi Beach with journalists.

The survival of turtles has become an urgent issue, considering that there are only a few turtle species left in the world, and most of them are in Indonesian waters.

The presence of 4 turtle species in Banyuwangi Regency, including the Sisik Turtle, Green Turtle, Belimbing Turtle, and Lekang Turtle, adds to the urgency of this preservation.

"We release turtles as part of our efforts to preserve the environment and marine ecosystem. Not only that, we also hope that this effort can enhance the attractiveness of sustainable ecotourism in Banyuwangi Regency, thus creating benefits for the local economy," said Hera F. Haryn during the BCA Bakti event in Tamansari Tourism Village and Stunting Education in Banyuwangi Regency, Thursday, August 10, 2023.

Planting Sea Pandanus

In addition to contributing to turtle conservation, BCA also planted 100 sea pandanus around Banyuwangi Beach. Sea pandanus has extraordinary ecological benefits, such as reducing beach erosion and protecting the terrestrial ecosystem from tidal impacts.

Not only that, sea pandanus also plays an important role in turtle conservation. Its fragrant flowers can attract turtles to lay eggs on the beach, while its thorns protect the nests from predators. Thus, the planting of sea pandanus not only strengthens the coastal environment, but also provides a safe place for turtles to continue their life cycle.

Not Only Mothers, Puteri Indonesia Farhana Nariswari Also Encourages Teenagers to Prevent Stunting

Dream - Puteri Indonesia 2023, Farhana Nariswari, stated that understanding stunting among teenagers is crucial. Because these teenagers can break the cycle of stunting when they become parents in the future.

“Stunting is not a genetic disease, but a cycle disease. Therefore, appropriate prevention steps are needed, starting from an early age in adolescence or premarital period,” explained Farhana Nariswari at SMAN 1 Wongsorejo, Banyuwangi, East Java, Wednesday, August 9, 2023.

According to Farhana, intensive education is needed for teenagers, as done by BCA in collaboration with the Banyuwangi Regency government and BKKBN, to raise awareness among teenagers about their important role in stunting prevention.

Farhana mentioned that the activities titled "Bakti Sehat untuk Balita" (Healthy Service for Toddlers) and "Edukasi Pencegahan Stunting kepada Remaja" (Stunting Prevention Education for Teenagers) in Wongsorejo are important for preventing stunting. She believes that with the right knowledge, women can become agents of change in their environment.

Nurturing High School Students

Wongsorejo is the sub-district with the highest stunting rate in Banyuwangi Regency. Although the stunting rate in Banyuwangi in 2022 was at 18.1%, a decrease compared to the previous year's 20.1%, there are still sub-districts with relatively high stunting rates, including Wongsorejo Sub-district.

In line with the company's commitment to create a quality #GenerasiPastiBisa (Definitely Can Generation) in the future, BCA supports the government's target to reduce the stunting rate in Banyuwangi Regency to below 14% by 2024 through activities with these two themes.

The "Bakti Sehat untuk Balita" (Healthy Service for Toddlers) activity conducted by BCA in Wongsorejo Sub-district was attended by 150 infants under two years old. In this activity, BCA collaborated with the Health Office, Community Health Center, and local Integrated Health Post to provide education about health and a clean and healthy environment to parents.

Collaborating with Puteri Indonesia

BCA chose SMAN 1 Wongsorejo as the location for this program campaign because it is one of the 20 schools supported by BCA Bakti located throughout Indonesia.

Students of SMAN 1 Wongsorejo received training on planning for and going through the five transitions in teenage life: paying attention to a healthy lifestyle, planning education, developing a career, having value in society, and planning for family life.

Through this education, it is hoped that teenagers can realize their role in stunting prevention, thus becoming actively involved in helping accelerate the reduction of stunting in the region.

“Seeing that stunting is not only caused by food intake but also parenting practices, we feel the need to carry out this activity. We also invite Puteri Indonesia to directly educate the community, as they can raise awareness about stunting,” explained Hera F. Haryn, EVP Corporate Communication & Social Responsibility at BCA.