Mapala Leuser USK and HAkA Clean Up the Mount Seulawah Hiking Trail
SERAMBINEWS.COM, JANTHO – The Leuser Nature Lovers Student Activity Unit (UKM PA Leuser) of Syiah Kuala University (USK), in collaboration with the Forest, Nature, and Environment Aceh Foundation (HAkA), conducted a climb of Mount Seulawah via the trail from Saree Village, Lembah Seulawah District, Aceh Besar, on September 12–13, 2026.
The climb also incorporated a trash collection drive along the trail leading to the summit of Mount Seulawah. This initiative aimed to reduce the amount of litter found on the hiking route while encouraging hikers to take responsibility for the waste generated during their mountain activities. A total of 15 people participated in the activity, comprising seven members of the USK Leuser Student Mountaineering Club (UKM PA Leuser) and eight members of HAkA. The team carried trash bags to collect refuse encountered along the way. Various types of waste were found—including plastics, bottles, and cans—and the collected trash was subsequently carried down from the mountain area.
In addition to collecting trash, the team also dismantled one of the trash bins located along the hiking trail—specifically at the rest stop known to hikers as Pintu Angin.
This measure was taken to reinforce the message that personal waste is the responsibility of each individual hiker. According to the team, the presence of trash bins along the trail should not be an excuse for hikers to leave litter in the mountain area.
M. Rafly, Chairperson of the Leuser Student Mountaineering Club (UKM PA Leuser), stated that responsibility for waste must begin with every hiker who carries gear and supplies up the mountain.
“As hikers, we really ought to be conscious of environmental cleanliness. Mountains are not trash bins. Any packaging brought along must not be left behind—let alone discarded carelessly—and must be carried back down. God has gifted us with beautiful nature; it is our duty to preserve it,” said Rafly. Through this activity, UKM PA Leuser and HAkA also emphasized the importance of aligning conservation efforts with global commitments to environmental preservation and addressing the climate crisis.
“This concrete action to clean up trash in the Mount Seulawah area reflects our shared commitment to preserving terrestrial biodiversity. Small steps—such as carrying one’s own trash back down—are crucial for advancing sustainable development, particularly in terms of conserving terrestrial ecosystems and taking tangible action against climate change,” he added.
Through these activities, UKM PA Leuser and HAkA promote the adoption of three principles: take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time, and leave nothing but footprints. These principles emphasize that hikers should not leave behind trash or anything else that could harm the environment after engaging in outdoor activities.
This article was published on SerambiNews.com under the headline “USK’s Mapala Leuser and HAkA Clean Up the Mount Seulawah Hiking Trail.” Author: Muhammad Nasir | Editor: Eddy Fitriadi.
Admin HAkA
Related Posts
