Semarang official says mentoring of waste banks and empowering communities are key to the success of its waste management program.
Hartatik is an editor at Suara Merdeka daily newspaper, based in Semarang City, Central Java, and has 14 years of experience as a journalist. She has an interest in covering environmental issues, climate change, LGBT, biodiversity, energy, agriculture and forestry. In 2018, she was awarded the Internews’ Environmental Journalism Network (EJN) Asia Pacific Micro-Grant to cover how the mountain communities save their water springs and adapt to climate change. In 2019, she received another micro-grant to write about the mangrove conservation effort by a village community to reduce the impacts of climate change. And in 2021, Hartatik collaborated with another female journalist on a story about how women and coffee farmers are supporting conservation of rare forest primates in Central Java.

A waste center in Semarang optimizes maggots in its waste reduction efforts
A study says maggots can decompose organic waste up to 80% of its weight. The center uses maggots to reduce waste while generating revenue.

Conservation and local economy to harmonize in crucial habitat of rare Javan gibbons
Essential Ecosystem Area is considered a middle way in harmonizing conservation and the community’s economy. However, education is needed for an effective collaborative forest management.

‘Gibbon coffee’ supports rare forest primates and local livelihoods in Java
Former hunters growing coffee in Petungkriyono Forest, Java, are helping to conserve endangered Javan gibbons and other primates.

Seeds of hope from a coastal village in Indonesia
How mangroves keep Bedono village from disappearing. Sea level rise is said to be one of the leading cause. Hartatik reports from Bedono, Central Java.

A green food stall in Semarang only accepts waste as currency
The eco-friendly food stall in Bambankerep, Semarang, Central Java, uses methane gas produced from landfill and receives payments with plastic waste.