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Wadulink Women: leading environmental restoration

“Losing riverbanks as a food source also means losing knowledge of local plants, traditional foods, and how to cook healthily for our children.” – Gotri, member of Wadulink

Meeting the Women of Wadulink

Makara meets with Nur Hamidah, Sri, and Gotri from Women Care for the Environment (Wadulink), a group of teachers, PKK members, Posyandu health volunteers, village officials, and housewives. Sitting on Nur Hamidah’s veranda in Sumengko Village, East Java, overlooking rice fields and the Jawa Pos Group’s paper factory, they share their story.

“We monitor river and well water quality using citizen science tools due to industrial pollution,” Nur explains, gesturing toward the factory.

The Environmental and Health Crisis

“The factory burns coal and plastic scraps, releasing black ash and toxic fumes,” Nur continues. “It produces recycled paper from imported waste mixed with plastic. Wastewater flows through our rice fields into the river, often turning the water black. Waste paper contains inks with possible lead and mercury, raising concerns about food contamination.”

Sri, a school headmaster, adds, “This pollution threatens our health, especially children’s development. Stunting is already an issue in Sumengko.” Once, the river provided clams, crabs, shrimp, and fish. Now, contamination has rendered it lifeless.

“The riverbanks are often dumping sites or occupied by illegal structures,” Nur laments.

Wadulink: A Community Taking Action

“Seven years ago, we formed Wadulink Sumengko,” Sri shares. Inspired by ECOTON, a local environmental NGO, and its Fish Sanctuary Area initiative, they began monitoring water quality, raising health awareness, and urging stricter enforcement of environmental laws. They also launched river restoration projects, planting trees and creating fish nurseries.

“Nutritious food is crucial for children’s health,” Gotri explains. “We planted moringa, a fast-growing, highly nutritious plant, along the riverbanks.”

Wadulink’s mission is to protect riverbanks from waste and illegal construction. Gotri reflects, “Losing riverbanks as a food source also means losing traditional food knowledge.”

Wadulink is part of the Aksi Brantas Project, which empowers women to lead community-based environmental initiatives along the Brantas River Basin.

Advocacy and Recognition

The women guide us through their gardens, showcasing moringa, a diaper waste bin (Dropo) to prevent river dumping, and signs reading, “No Trash Here.”

“In 2017, we voiced concerns at the Village Meeting, but the Village Head was uninterested,” Nur recalls. In 2022, Wadulink gained legal recognition, making their advocacy harder to ignore. Based on their research, they now urge local authorities to enforce stricter regulations on industrial pollution.

The Green Belt Moringa Park Initiative

On October 17, 2023, at Sumengko Village Hall, Nur presents their “Green Belt Moringa Park” proposal to local officials.

“The park will be a protected riverside forest with herbal gardens for nutritious food,” Nur explains. BBWS-Brantas, the government agency responsible for managing the Brantas River Basin, installed a sign banning construction in the proposed area. “Permanent constructions are prohibited on riverbanks, but enforcement remains a challenge,” Gotri notes.

Using the Green Business Seed Fund, they are producing moringa snacks and establishing a refill store to reduce single-use plastics.

Ongoing Challenges

Despite progress, challenges persist. “Permanent constructions are prohibited here, but enforcement is weak,” Gotri emphasizes. They’ve reported illegal buildings, but follow-up is slow. At the proposed Moringa Park, the sign banning construction was even moved to make space for a newly built garage. “We’ve reported this, but action has been limited,” Nur adds. “Local authorities struggle to act, so higher-level agencies must step up.”

Through persistent advocacy and the resilience of women like Nur, Sri, and Gotri, Wadulink continues to fight for Sumengko’s riverbanks and traditional knowledge.