5 MIN READ

08-28-2026

Cleaning the Coast Where Wildlife Calls Home

Ferdi Wardika & Reza Pahlevi, 4ocean Jembrana Content Correspondent

A Collaborative Effort at Alas Purwo

     Following the opening ceremony at 8:00 a.m., participants were divided among Pancur Beach, Trianggulasi Beach, and Parang Ireng Beach. Beach Team 1 worked alongside other participants at Pancur Beach, while Beach Team 2 was assigned to Parang Ireng Beach. Other participants continued cleanup activities at Trianggulasi Beach, with everyone working along the coastline to collect debris scattered throughout the conservation area.

     The 4ocean Java teams prepared collection sacks before the cleanup began, allowing the recovered waste to be gathered and organized efficiently. After several hours of work, the filled sacks were transported to the designated weighing area. Recording the weight of the collected debris provided a clear measure of the impact of the day's efforts before the waste was loaded onto 4ocean Java's operational trucks and transported back to the base for further handling and processing.

Impact Details

The cleanup resulted in the removal of 1,425.9 pounds of plastic waste across 81 sacks. The team encountered a variety of debris, including plastic cups, straws, foam, and microplastics.

The amount of waste collected highlights the continued presence of marine debris even within protected conservation areas. Removing this waste helps reduce the likelihood of plastic being carried back into the ocean, where it can pose risks to wildlife and coastal ecosystems.

Microplastics presented one of the main challenges during the cleanup. Because these small pieces of plastic can be difficult to see and collect, the team had to slow down and carefully inspect the cleanup area to ensure as much debris as possible was recovered.

This extra effort was important because even the smallest pieces of plastic can remain in the environment and become increasingly difficult to remove over time.

Giving Back to the Ocean

For Yusuf Kurniawan Ramadan, seeing the amount of waste scattered throughout the conservation area was deeply concerning.

“The amount of waste scattered along the beach is a deeply concerning sight. We found various types of waste throughout the coastal area. As the 4ocean Java Beach Team, we will continue to do our part to give hope to the life that depends on these coastal ecosystems, helping protect the beach and its surroundings from the growing threat of pollution and preserve their natural beauty.”

     The cleanup at Alas Purwo National Park was more than a waste collection activity. It demonstrated what can happen when different groups come together around a shared responsibility. The participation of 4ocean Java, Alas Purwo National Park, government agencies, security personnel, and other volunteers showed that protecting conservation areas requires cooperation and continued commitment.

     Coastal environments provide important habitats for countless species, making the protection of these areas especially important. Plastic waste left along the shoreline can be carried by wind and ocean currents, eventually entering the water and potentially harming wildlife through ingestion or entanglement.

     Cleanup efforts can help address waste that has already entered the environment, but prevention remains essential. Reducing single-use plastics, taking waste home, and leaving natural areas free of litter are simple actions that everyone can take.

     The effort at Alas Purwo serves as a reminder that meaningful environmental change begins with people working together. One sack of waste may seem small on its own, but when many people contribute across many places, those individual actions can become a powerful force for protecting the natural world.

     4ocean Java hopes the spirit of collaboration demonstrated at Alas Purwo continues beyond cleanup events, inspiring more people to make environmental responsibility part of their everyday lives.

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