Working as a staff member at the Fisheries Center in South Kalimantan does not deter Ziskia Mahrani Aulika from delving into the issue of deforestation. Ziskia's interest in forests began to grow when she was in elementary school and was inspired by television shows featuring forest exploration. Her concern for forest protection increased when she frequently witnessed environmental degradation due to forest conversion in her residential area in South Kalimantan. "Customary forests have now been converted for palm oil plantations, mining, and tourism, which ultimately have an impact not only on the local commu- nities but also on the fauna losing their habitats," says Ziskia.
Driven by her personal experience of witnessing the worrying impacts of deforestation, including the pollution caused by forest fires and violence against indigenous communities, Ziskia joined the volunteer group "Hutan itu Indonesia'' to campaign for forest conservation online. Through her volunteer work, she also initiated the establishment of the Jagak Himbak community. Together with Jagak Himbak, Ziskia actively raises her voice through social media and offline platforms that invite community participation in the fight to protect forests. Ziskia's vision is to empower communities to have a stronger voice in address- ing environmental challenges and developing innovative solutions for forest conservation.
Dukung Petisi Zizkia: Stop Aktivitas Perusakan di Kawasan Gunung Meratus
