Women’s Model for Environmental Conservation

KOMPAS/Dokumentasi Pribadi

Sere Rohana Napitupulu

At first, she noticed the presence of only a few biopore infiltration holes in the vicinity of her home. With this reality, Sere Rohana Napitupulu was interested in joining environmental conservation activities. Along with local residents, she made biopore holes to increase the total from 15 to 614. Thereafter, she began to provide waste management guidance.

Contacted on Saturday (12/12/2020), Sere said she lacked awareness of the benefits of biopores when she started participating. Sere only thought that biopores could absorb rainwater.

“Grass and cogon can only absorb 10 centimeters of water into the ground. An infiltration hole with a maximum depth of 1 meter and a diameter of 10 centimeters can absorb 16 liters of water within an hour,” said Sere, who lives in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta.

When she was named chief of neighborhood unit (RT) 002 in 2010, she decided to oblige every home to have two biopore holes. To ensure its  implementation, she provided Rp15,000 per hole for residents making the biopores. The money came from the RT chief operational fund.

These biopores are capable of absorbing rainwater, thus reducing inundation in the rainy season and preventing water shortage in the dry season. Biopores also improve the soil ecosystem so that plants thrive.

This way, residents were motivated to make infiltration holes. Within a year, the number of the holes increased from 15 to 300 active biopore holes and now there are 614 holes. These biopores are capable of absorbing rainwater, thus reducing inundation in the rainy season and preventing water shortage in the dry season. Biopores also improve the soil ecosystem so that plants thrive.

From biopores, she has turned to waste management, by inviting residents to sort their waste and build a waste bank. Organic waste is put into biopore holes while dry waste like cardboard, paper and plastic bottles are “converted” into rupiah.

The volume of garbage discarded by residents to the dump has decreased. Before the digging of biopore holes, each RT delivered a cart of rubbish to the dump. Now the garbage from three RTs only amounts to one cart.

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Based on the composition of waste measured at TPST Bantargebang (dump) in 2010, organic waste constitutes 67 percent and inorganic waste 32.8 percent. According to Sere, if every Jakarta citizen sorted household waste, there would be no more problem of heaping garbage in the capital.

Previously rejected, waste can now even be used for charity. Sere calls on residents to gather dry trash having some sale value and hang it in front of fences so as to be collected by scavengers and garbage men. “By this means, we can give alms to scavengers and garbage men,” said the mother of three and grandmother.

Changing habits

Sere is a housewife with a deep passion for her home environment. She is fond of growing various plants, especially ornamental and spice plants that create a comfortable atmosphere and enrich oxygen. She also likes arranging flowers for important occasions such as weddings.

She routinely shares her flair for planting with residents of kampungs and apartments. She also shares her experience in urban farming with the younger generation in schools. Amid the pandemic today, her skills are shared online.

Inviting people to show concern over the environment was not easy in the beginning as she had to change their habits. Through instruction given in different activities like arisan (lottery drawing gatherings) and religious discussion meetings, Sere has managed to change their outlook and habits.

Residents who used to take a bath with water from tubs now choose to shower to save water. The habit of brushing teeth with running tap water has changed with the use of glass water.

Sere indicated that changing people’s habits could not be done abruptly. Instruction alone wasn’t enough either. She has had to set examples of how to maintain the environment at her own residence. After observing her concrete examples, residents will be interested and follow suit.

KOMPAS/DENTY PIAWAI NASTITIE

Sere Rohana Napitupulu (tengah) menerima penghargaan Ibu Kota Award DKI bidang pelestarian lingkungan dari Pemprov DKI Jakarta.

For instance, Sere makes compost by processing her household waste herself. Besides compost, she also turns waste into an eco-enzyme, a complex organic solution produced from the fermentation of organic residues, sugar and water. The solution is used for cleaning and fertilizing.

As a result, the vegetables in her home are fresh and flourishing thanks to her compost and eco-enzyme. Residents noticing the effect are attracted and try to imitate.

She also teaches residents how to prune the twigs of tall trees, not only to make them neat but also to make sure that the trees will be evenly exposed to sunshine as required. Smaller trees beneath the large ones are also protected.

With her frequent pruning work, she is nicknamed “The Tree Clipper”. However, after residents have felt the benefits of the trimming, they don’t protest. They just fully support her instead.

Sere admitted that she had also changed her habit along with residents. “I used to expend water carelessly, never thinking of its impact, now I’ve become more concerned over environment conservation,” said Sere.

Her initiatives have been appreciated by some circles. Among others, she earned Capital City Award 2019 for Environment Conservation from the Jakarta provincial government and the Jakarta Kalpataru environment award.

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The awards she received, said Sere, enabled her to reach a lot more people to take care of the environment. Those coming from Jakarta and other cities have often asked her how to grow plants.

Sere provides guidance for residents on tree planting, from sowing seeds through harvesting crop yield.

“I want to appeal that the public safeguard the earth for the sake of the future of coming generations. I always feel happy if students and friends are coming to ask me how to grow plants. Just grow whatever vegetation like vegetables, spice herbs, ornamental plants, you name it, because all of them give us oxygen to breathe,” she added.

Rohana Napitupulu

Born: Surabaya, 12 May 1959

Education: School of Electronic Engineering, Indonesian Christian University, Jakarta (1978-1984)

Activities:

- JELITA DKI Organization, Member-Development & Training (2015-present)

- Chairperson, Asri Waste Bank, Community Unit (RW) 02 (2012-present)

Awards:

- Capital City Award 2019 for Environment Conservation (2019)

- Ambassador of Urban Farming Bank Indonesia (2015)

- Jakarta Kalpataru Award (2013 and 2014)