Semarang (5/10) Environmental Engineering Diponegoro University. The lake is a natural body of water that has a large size surrounded by land and is not related to the sea, except through rivers. The lake has many benefits for various needs of the wider community such as water resources for agriculture or the daily needs of the community, power generation, livelihoods, tourism, and others. So much potential can be utilized with the existence of a lake. One of the lakes in Indonesia in the national arena is natural lake tourism in Semarang Regency, Central Java, namely Rawa Pening. In Indonesian, “Rawa Pening” means Swamp Clear. The name was given by the local community because the water in this lake is very clear. This lake has 2,670 ha which includes 4 different districts, namely Banyubiru, Bawen, Tuntang, and Ambarawa. With various beauties and potentials, Rawa Pening can become a destination that can be favored and increase the economy of the local community. In order to maintain and maintain and increase public knowledge related to the importance of maintaining Rawa Pening, Jasa Tirta I initiated an Environmental Conservation Socialization activity around Rawa Pening which was carried out at Bukit Cinta Tourism Park, Kebondowo Village, Banyubiru District, Semarang Regency. In addition, Jasa Tirta I also invited stakeholders including PT Indonesia Power, the Semarang Regency Environmental Service, Semarang regency BBWS, the Semarang Regency Spatial Planning Office, fishermen’s association groups, local residents, tourism managers, Sebelas Maret University students, and Diponegoro University students.
Socialization related to “Environmental Conservation Around Rawa Pening” by Ir. Winardi Dwi Nugraha, M.Si., one of the lecturers of Environmental Engineering at Diponegoro University, was conveyed about how to handle hyacinths in Rawa Pening. Until now, this topic is still one of the focuses of solving environmental problems, where it is hoped that the growth of hyacinths on the water face can be controlled and can still be one of the factors supporting the economy of the community around Rawa Pening that most of which have livelihoods as fishermen and farmers. One form of hyacinths handling that has been carried out by the local community is by harvesting hyacinths and making them as raw materials for crafts or compost. In addition to the problem of the large number of hyacinths, it turns out that there is also a buildup of sediment that causes silting in Rawa Pening and this is a new problem. Based on existing data, it is known that the incoming sediment is 743,459 m3 per year, of which one of these sediments can come from agricultural activities around Rawa Pening or the carcasses of dead hyacinth plants. “Currently, a new problem that needs to be solved is the accumulation of sediment in Rawa Pening which causes silting and the emergence of small islands,” said the head of the fishermen’s association group. Based on the discussion session at that time, it was known that this silting problem could be overcome vegetatively or by planting.
The existence of socialization activities and discussion forums for environmental conservation around Rawa Pening is expected to be a solution to the problems of blooming hyacinths and silting of Rawa Pening. Not quite here, there is a need for follow-up of the discussions that have been carried out to be able to achieve common goals related to the preservation of the environment around the Rawa Pening. “To be able to realize this environmental conservation, let us together both the community and policymakers are synergize with each other,” said Ir. Winardi Dwi Nugraha, M.Si at the end of the presentation of the material.