Naldo stopped running about ten steps before the finish line of the Eco Echo Trail Run in Sentul, Bogor, on Sunday, June 21, 2026. He expressed his joy at being the first finisher by dancing before sprinting again to break through the finish line stretched out by the organizers. “Usually I’m a road ‘reckless,’ but it turns out I can be ‘reckless’ on a trail too,” said Naldo after completing his “virgin trail”—a term used by runners experiencing a cross-country trail for the first time—which spanned 5 kilometers in 35 minutes.

Although he managed to finish in first place, Naldo admitted that the Eco Echo Trail Run course wasn’t easy. He faced one of the toughest challenges when he reached the fourth kilometer, which featured a fairly steep incline. “I even had to stop for a moment,” he said. However, the support from fellow runners along the route kept him motivated to finish the course.

In addition to offering challenges, the trail in the Sentul area also provided an opportunity to experience the beauty of nature firsthand. Drawing from this experience, Naldo encouraged fellow runners to help protect the environment so that nature’s beauty can be preserved.

Miller, a participant in the 10K category, shared a similar message. For him, participating in the Eco Echo Trail Run is not just about exercise, but also a way to contribute to the environment. “To my fellow runners, let’s continue to be highly conscious of protecting the environment and supporting events like this,” he said.

The Eco Echo Trail Run 2026 is a charity trail run organized in collaboration with WWF-Indonesia, SalingJaga, and Kitabisa, with approximately 1,000 runners participating. Through this event, participants are encouraged to run while contributing to environmental and humanitarian recovery efforts. “This isn’t just about the finish line, how many hours, or how many minutes. We’re reigniting the spirit of post-disaster recovery in Aceh, a process that’s far from over. This isn’t just a humanitarian mission either. You are earth guardians, so look out for one another—for both people and wildlife—to live in harmony together,” said Rusyda Deli, Director of People, Operations, and Growth at WWF-Indonesia, at the starting line before sending off the runners.

Amid the excitement of the Eco Echo Trail Run 2026 event, WWF-Indonesia also hosted a discussion session to reinforce the environmental message to the runners. During this session, Diah R. Sulistiowati, Manager of External Engagement & Media at WWF-Indonesia, discussed the Peusangan Watershed in Central Aceh, which serves as one of the key habitats for Sumatran elephants. However, late last year, this area was hit by floods and landslides.

This incident serves as a reminder for everyone to continue supporting nature conservation efforts, particularly the protection of elephant habitats. “Elephants are bioindicators that a location is still in good condition. If the elephants are gone, the forest is gone,” said Sulis, Diah R. Sulistiowati’s nickname.

Therefore, Sulis said, everyone must protect the forests and wildlife to minimize the impacts of climate change. “And the participants of the Eco Echo Trail Run have contributed to saving wildlife,” she added. She emphasized that protecting forests and wildlife is a crucial part of efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change.

Della Dartyan, a member of Members of Nature (MoNa) Warrior, also discussed the challenges posed by negative interactions between humans and elephants due to the shrinking of the animals’ roaming areas. According to her, one of the approaches taken by WWF-Indonesia is to support agroforestry practices by encouraging communities to grow crops that are not food sources for elephants, such as coffee and cocoa. “Hopefully, we can live in mutual respect, sharing the space of biodiversity,” Della expressed.

It is this hope of creating a harmonious living space between humans and wildlife that WWF-Indonesia continues to pursue through various approaches, ranging from community support to broader public engagement. According to Michael Nugraha Budiarto, Community Growth & Partnership Manager at WWF-Indonesia, one way to bring environmental issues closer to urban communities is through activities relevant to their daily lives, such as events like running races. Additionally, through the Members of Nature (MoNa) community, WWF-Indonesia continues to strive to create a space for anyone to connect their hobbies, communities, and concrete actions for the environment.

The Eco Echo Trail Run 2026 demonstrates that caring for nature can be expressed in various ways, including activities that are part of our daily lives. Behind every drop of sweat and every finish line crossed lies the hope for a better future for forests, wildlife, and the communities that depend on them. After all, efforts to protect nature don’t always start with grand gestures, but rather with a willingness to care, take action, and play a part in ensuring life remains sustainable.