Gresik Naturalist

Why we started

Amid the changes to Gresik’s landscape, many places remain well-kept habitats. They are worth exploring and can become places of learning where people in Gresik grow close to nature again.

Gresik Naturalist aims to build good memories of time spent with the nature around us, in the hope that people in Gresik stay close to their natural surroundings and care for them across generations.

Gresik Naturalist has been active since 2023, starting with documenting habitats around Gresik and growing into public nature activities in 2026.

Documenting biodiversity

Step by step, we explore and share the biodiversity found in Gresik: the species we encounter, their habitats and their stories.

Habitats documented so far

Kali Lewean estuary, Ujung Pangkah: afforested mangroves first planted with Rhizophora mucronata, now dominated by naturally recruited Avicennia marina under high sedimentation
A former cement quarry undergoing natural succession, now a birdwatching site
Riverside nipa palm (Nypa fruticans) forest under pressure from industrial development
Eroded fishponds in Tanjung Widoro that have returned to mangrove forest

Bird records

Species shared so far include the pheasant-tailed jacana (Hydrophasianus chirurgus), Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus), milky stork (Mycteria cinerea) and migratory shorebirds such as curlews (Numenius spp.).

Activities

Activities are open to children and adults alike. We believe time in nature brings children and parents closer and builds curiosity, independence, adaptability and confidence.

Nature Discovery WalkEasy walks to get to know nearby nature: birdwatching, map reading with a compass and looking closely with a magnifying glass. Run as separate sessions for children and adults.

Mengare DiscoveryAn ocean literacy trip at PRPM Mengare, as part of the Mengare Discovery programme (a PT Petrokimia Gresik CSR programme): mangrove ecosystems and their wildlife, where our fish and shrimp come from, cooking with what nature provides, a river trip, and planting Avicennia marina.

Night DiscoveryExploring nature after dark: watching the moonrise and stars in the open.

Every activity follows simple principles: take only what you need, leave nothing that does not belong in nature, and give nature room to keep growing.

Who we are

Gresik Naturalist is run by Agus Satriyono and Citra Fitrie Riany together with our children, Hanna and Hiro.

How to join

Follow @gresik_naturalist on Instagram for news and documentation.
Join our community on Reclub; events are announced there and on Instagram.
Take part when we hold an event.