Students of the Master Program in Environmental Science at the Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), as part of the implementation of the Tri Dharma of higher education, conducted a Field Study (Kuliah Kerja Lapangan or KKL) in the coastal areas of Pemalang Regency, Central Java, from July 14th to 18th 2025. The focus areas for this activity included Pemalang District, Taman District, Petarukan District, and Ulujami District.
A total of 51 students from the Environmental Science Master Program took part in the activity. They are divided into several groups based on their specific research interests. The activity was supervised by faculty members, including Dr. Rika Harini, S.Si., MP., and Prof. Dr. Ignasius Loyola Setyawan Purnama, M.Si.
Students observed the coastal conditions of Pemalang Regency according to their areas of interest, which included social aspects, the Coastal Hazard Wheel, seawater intrusion, the Clean Coastal Index, and biotic components. Several pressing issues in Pemalang’s coastal areas—such as damage to infrastructure, homes, and agricultural land due to tidal flooding—became the primary focus of in-depth field investigations.
The field study involved various local government agencies in Pemalang Regency, including the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the Environmental Office, the Fisheries Office, the Regional Development Planning Agency (BAPPEDA), the Branch of Forestry Office V, and also the Public Works and Water Resources and Spatial Planning Agency of Central Java Province. Their involvement helped guide the research toward more actionable and policy-relevant outcomes.
It is hoped that both the local government and the community will gain appropriate education and awareness regarding the current conditions of the coastal areas in Pemalang Regency.
Findings from this research are expected to enhance awareness among both policymakers and residents about the importance of sustainable environmental management. Climate change and increasingly heterogeneous development in coastal areas present ongoing challenges, requiring continued collaboration between government and local communities to maintain environmental integrity and sustainability.
Author: Siti Muyasaroh