By: Sri Jimmy Kustini

This year's Earth Day celebration which fell on April 22 was also carried out by WWF-Indonesia in West Kutai, East Kalimantan. In collaboration with SDN 010 Bongan, Linggang Melapeh Village Government, Linggang Melapeh Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis), Patmos GKII Melak Youth Group, Linggang Melapeh, and Linggang Bigung, WWF-Indonesia organized various activities starting from April 22 to May 3, 2015. The activities included Earth Day Workshop in Bongan, Environmental Sanitation Campaign goes to school in Jambuk and Muara Gusik, Earth Day Workshop in Melak, "Clean-Up Day and Earth Day Outbound" at Lake Aco tourist site in Linggang Melapeh.

The Earth Day Workshop in Bongan carried the theme "Waste and its Management". No less than 40 people attended the activity, consisting of elementary to high school / vocational school students from various schools, members of the Bongan Sub-district leadership deliberation, a number of community, religious, and traditional leaders, representatives of the West Kutai Regency Government radio public relations, WWF staff, and representatives of the West Kutai Education Office. The workshop discussed and sought the best solution to the waste problem in the Bongan area and West Kutai in general, which is currently causing unpleasant odors and starting to interfere with health. The participation of all parties is the main key in overcoming the waste problem, including the development of a good waste management system so as not to pollute the environment both on land and in rivers.

Earth Day Workshop activities in Melak, "Clean-Up Day and Earth Day Outbound" at Lake Aco tourist site in Linggang Melapeh were attended by young people, especially junior and senior high school students in Melak, Linggang Melapeh, and Linggang Bigung. The workshop in Melak was attended by around 50 teenagers, while the "Clean-Up Day and Earth Day Outbound" involved more than 60 participants.

The series of activities organized by WWF-Indonesia in West Kutai in the framework of Earth Day is designed to increase the awareness and participation of the younger generation and the general public in maintaining and protecting the environment and nature properly so that its sustainability can continue in the future.