22 November 2023
Anonymous Writer
This community service activity (abdimas) of the International Community Service scheme was carried out from 25th to 26th October 2023 in the Wings Project Area, Bukit Lawang, Langkat Regency. This activity was led by Novita Anggraini, M.Sc. from the USU Faculty of Forestry (Fahutan), and collaborated with Dr. Rahmi Karolina from the USU Faculty of Engineering and PUI Bamboo.
Foreign collaboration partners who participated in this activity were Dr. Rangabhasyiam Selvasembian from SRM University, India, and Dr. Lee Sheng Hua from Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. In addition to the two partners, participants who participated in this international community service activity were lecturers from the USU Faculty of Forestry, including Prof. Dr. Agus Purwoko, Dr. Nelly Anna, Dr. Ma'rifatin Zahra, Dr. OK Hasnanda Syahputra, Dwi Endah Widyastuti, M.Si., Ridahati Rambey, M.Si., and lecturers from the USU Faculty of Engineering, including Dr. Ar. Achmad Delianur Nasution and Ir. Hilma Tamiami Fachrudin, Ph.D as well as students from the USU Faculty of Forestry, USU Faculty of Engineering, SRM University, and Universiti Teknologi MARA.
The head of the community service activity team from the USU Faculty, Novita Anggraini, M.Sc, told Waspada on Tuesday (21/11) that this international community service carries the theme "Riverbank Conservation by Utilizing Bamboo Vegetation as Embankment Reinforcement". This activity begins with socialization and training on the potential of bamboo as a river embankment conservation plant, as well as assistance and direct bamboo planting in the river embankment area as an effort to mitigate flash floods in Bukit Lawang.
"Bamboo is the preferred vegetation type for river embankment conservation because it has roots that can function as an erosion barrier to prevent flooding. For additional information, all types of bamboo can be used as erosion barriers because they have a fibrous root system with very strong rhizome roots," he explained.
According to Novita, the types of bamboo planted are betung bamboo and black bamboo. Based on research by Putro, Jumari, and Murningsih (2014), betung bamboo, which has the Latin name Dendrocalamus asper, has slightly tight clumps, yellowish green stem color, and is larger and taller than other types of bamboo. Betung bamboo stems can reach 20 meters in height with long and thick internodes. Betung bamboo has a hard stem that is good for building materials.
In addition to preventing erosion and flooding, betung bamboo can also be used for water channels, tapped palm water reservoirs, woven house walls (gedhek or bilik), and various types of handicraft items. Black bamboo, which has the Latin name Gigantochloa atroviolacea, clumps more densely and is blackish-green in color. The growth of black bamboo is rather slow and the upright bamboo can reach a height of 20 meters. Apart from preventing erosion and flooding, this type of bamboo is very good for making musical instruments.
Continued by Prof. Dr. Agus Purwoko as Vice Dean III of the Faculty of Forestry in charge of Research, Community Service, and Cooperation, this international abdimas needs to be carried out every year as a form of implementation of science that has a direct impact on society and the environment.
"This activity also has the potential for collaboration with USU partners abroad in order to build and restore the potential of natural resources that have been degraded, especially those in North Sumatra," he explained.
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