IFSA (International Forestry Students’ Association) is an organization of forestry students from around the world which has 73 local committees, including IFSA LC of Universitas Gadjah Mada, in more than 54 countries around the world. This organization is a forum for forestry students worldwide to gather and discuss issues, as well as to develop organizational skills and soft skills, to expand the network whether among students of forestry around the world or with IFSA partners from international institutions and international organizations, or with other international youth organizations. This is in sync with the vision and mission of the IFSA, namely to create global collaboration between students in forestry science that aims to broaden knowledge and understanding to achieve a sustainable future for our forests. It becomes the representative of the youth in various international events related to policy making for the forestry sector and the environment.
International Forestry Students’ Symposium (IFSS) is the IFSA annual meeting held in different countries every year. The existing programs in this IFSS include General Assembly, a report from IFSA board, elections of new board and IFSS host in the upcoming two years. There are also public lectures on related themes given by international forestry experts, fieldtrip, cultural trips, and international night event for the promotion of culture of each country to create cultural understanding, which can nurture world peace. This event is aimed for forestry students worldwide to broaden and enrich their knowledge of forestry and to exchange cultural information from the various member countries of IFSA. This year the 39th IFSS was held in Finland from August 3 to 18, 2011 with the theme of "Multiple Use of Forest". Two students of UGM, Enjang Asri and Citra Gilang Qur’ani, attended the seminar.
This event started from the southern part of Finland to the northern end of Finland. For 15 days we are invited to see and observe the forest in Finland, starting from the management of forest, forestry industries including paper mills, sawn timber mills, and wood energy. We went to national park in Finland and visited the raindeer breeding place, The IFSA LC of UGM has a good record of achievement in the management of IFSA World. Choiriatun Annisa became vice president of IFSA, Metia F.PLembasi became Head of UNCCC sub- commission and Head of IPC (International Processes Commission), Ahmad Karsidi the Asian Regional Representative and Amalia Anindia was former IFSA Council and Asian Regional Representative. They learned and experienced much that enrich their knowledge and develop their skills to optimize their potential. Enjang Asri was further elected as IFSA Council 2011-2012, Ahmad Karsidi as Head of UNCBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) sub commission, Metia Febrita Putri Lembasi as LO (Liaison Officer) of ITTO (International Tropical Timber Organization), and Citra Gilang Qur’ani as Commissioner of the IPC. Their accomplishments are a very prideful achievement for the Faculty of Forestry and Universitas Gadjah Mada. It also proved that the achievements can be made not only through academic track, but also through non-academic track. This also shows that Indonesian students are not inferior to international students.
"IFSS is one activity where we can get an unforgettable experience, learned new ideas, made new friends from all over the world and networking with people who are quite influential in forestry," said Enjang. She added that the IFSS is one of the facilities to make a professional leader with global perspective.