Hi, I'm Handayani, a 5th semester student from the Forestry Study Program, Faculty of Forestry (Fahutan), Tanjungpura University, Pontianak. I did an internship with four of my friends, namely Selvi, Sarjono, Dadi and Dedi. The Alam Sehat Lestari Foundation (ASRI) was the place where I interned in the Independent Campus Learning Internship (MBKM) program.

What I liked when I arrived in Sukadana, which is the location where ASRI's head office is located, was the view of the beautiful hills which still looked green. That makes me happy because in my own village it is very difficult to find a view like that. There are also many tourist attractions here that I can visit.

The first day of our internship started with a morning meeting and introductions to ASRI staff. After that, we were taken on a tour with Kak Laily, who is the ASRI Exchange Coordinator, to see the rooms in the ASRI Clinic, to the warehouse containing the senso that ASRI received from former loggers, as well as the nursery at the back. After touring ASRI, we met with the Head of Conservation Program, Research Manager, and Livelihood Manager to discuss the schedule of activities during our internship at ASRI.

On the second day of our internship, we were taken by the Forestry Manager, M. Rusda Yakin, to the back nursery and introduced to the nursery staff, Mr. Syahril. There we convey the things we need to know and learn about nurseries. Together with the Nursery Coordinator, Adzi Febri, we made a nameplate for the nursery. However, before that, we were invited to identify the types of seeds in the nursery and arrange the beds according to each type. After identifying and classifying the seeds in the nursery, we immediately made seed name plates. Once finished, nameplates are installed according to the seed beds which have been arranged based on type.

In the following days I took part in many programs in the ASRI Forestry division, both in nurseries and reforestation. At the Clinic Nursery, I help with sowing, replanting, cleaning, watering and arranging the seeds. There are two classifications of seeds in the ASRI nursery, namely hardwood and fruit trees. The seeds in this nursery come from patients who pay for treatment in non-cash form. Apart from patients, seeds are also obtained from MSME partners.

There is something unique, we here also take care of the seeds that have been adopted. Apart from the nursery at the Clinic, we also help with activities at other nurseries owned by ASRI, one of which is in Sedahan Jaya. We carried out seed selection activities to take to the reforestation location together with Bang Joni and Pak Jono. We were told by Mr. Jono that the seeds chosen must be ones that are already tall and have lots of new leaves or shoots. Please note that almost all of the Sedahan Jaya nurseries contain seeds plucked from natural seedlings. Therefore, this nursery also has a hood house. This hood serves to reduce evaporation that occurs in plants.

Usually seeds that are ready to be taken to the reforestation location have been in the hood for 3 months. At the Sedahan Jaya nursery, I have also helped sow durian seeds and arrange the seedlings there.

We also help at the Tambak Rawang Nursery. There my friends and I often carry out activities such as cleaning the nursery and arranging the seeds. Apart from these three nurseries, there is also the largest nursery that ASRI has which is in Laman Satong. However, we didn't do much activity there because the access was relatively far. My friends and I also had the opportunity to go to the Perupuk Ecosystem Recovery Camp to see the reforestation location that is being worked on by ASRI in collaboration with the Gunung Palung National Park Office.

The trip to Perupuk is very pleasant and to get there you have to use a motorized canoe. The journey to get to the camp can take more than 2 hours. But during the trip you won't feel it because we are following the Bayas River, where various types of trees stand on the banks. I also felt lucky because I saw a proboscis monkey perched on a tree on the river bank. This was my first encounter with proboscis monkeys directly.

I also had the opportunity to take part in collecting seeds in the upper reaches of Ketapang with the nursery team. It was unexpected that the journey to the upstream area was very long and the road could also be said to be difficult. We took the seeds from Pak Erwan, who is an ASRI partner of Forest Friends (Sahut) from Perfect Village. After arranging the seeds in the car, we immediately continued our journey home to Sukadana.

Apart from that, I also take part in Livelihood activities, namely monitoring the health of goats in the Goats for Widows program with the coordinator, Mrs. Setiawati. We took part in monitoring in Gunung Sembilan, Sukadana District, North Kayong Regency. Goat health checks are carried out to monitor whether the goat is healthy or infected with disease. If it is sick, Mrs. Setiawati will give the owner a way to cure the goat.

I also took part in Planetary Health Education activities and had the opportunity to be involved in outreach activities to the community. This counseling was carried out in Rantau Panjang Village with material about the environment and health. One of my friends (Sarjono) and I were asked to be documenters during the activity. Apart from that, my friends and I also took part in ASRI Kids activities with Bang Wayan, Children and Youth Education Coordinator. The ASRI Kids we follow are at SDN 18 Begasing. Children are given knowledge about nature and the environment and the impact if damage occurs. Apart from that, they are also taught how to reuse used goods, such as making tote bags from clothes. The children were very enthusiastic about participating in this activity.

I also took part in the activities of the Research Team, such as seedling monitoring which was carried out at the 2022 reforestation location in Laman Satong. This activity is carried out to find out the diameter of the stem and the height of the plant, as well as to see whether there are seeds that need to be embroidered or not. We also participated in survey activities carried out by the Research Team in the eastern part of Gunung Palung National Park (TNGP). We interns were assigned as surveyors and while there we carried out surveys in three villages, namely Perfect Village, Teluk Bayur Village, and Jago Village).

The survey was carried out from house to house and asked several questions that had been prepared. This was a very impressive experience because I could interact directly with the community. The people there were also kind and friendly when we asked to interview them.

Apart from that, I also took part in camera trap shooting activities with Bang Iqbal, fellow interns (Sarjono, Nadi) and Bang Andi in Laman Satong. The journey to take the camera trap was extraordinary, we passed through damaged roads and bushes to take the camera trap. This will be an exciting experience for me.

After many activities that I participated in for two months and eight days and that also marked the end of this internship activity. I feel happy to be able to help with activities during my internship at ASRI and I have gained a lot of experience and knowledge during this time. I feel very grateful here to be able to meet people who are kind to me and the ASRI staff also share a lot of stories which make me motivated for the future. While at ASRI I also didn't feel like I was being differentiated, here my friends and I were even considered peers by ASRI friends.

We often joked when we met and I will never forget those times. Hopefully the presence of me and my friends at ASRI will give a good and meaningful impression to everyone. Thank you very much to ASRI for being willing to accept us to carry out internships. Thank you also to all the people involved in helping and directing our activities during the internship. We apologize if while at ASRI there were actions and words made by me and my friends that were not heartfelt. Hopefully on another occasion I can visit again and join ASRI to take part in preserving nature.

Salam Lestari!