Four students from the Agricultural Extension and Communication Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture at Universitas Gadjah Mada (Agriculture UGM), participated in an integrated biodiversity inventory and monitoring program at the KGPAA Mangkunagoro I Grand Forest Park (Tahura) area on the slopes of Mount Lawu, Central Java, from May 4 to 6. The activity was carried out to support environmental conservation and sustainable ecosystem management.
The biodiversity inventory was conducted through a pentahelix collaboration scheme involving the government, academics, businesses, communities, and the media. The program also partnered with PT Pertamina Patra Niaga AFT Adi Sumarno, Ailesh as the technical facilitator, and the Green Lawu Forest Farmer Group as a liaison with communities surrounding the area.
The students involved in the activity were Azarine Malika Zayyan, Aisya Alifarizki, Salma Darajatun, and Muhammad Rafi Gunadi. They directly participated in biodiversity inventory and monitoring processes in the field alongside other stakeholders. Through this activity, the students gained field research experience while contributing to the collection of scientific data to support the sustainable management of the forest park.
“We hope the inventory data we produced can serve as a reference for long-term area management,” said Azarine on Monday (May. 11).
Azarine emphasized that cross-sector collaboration is an important factor in maintaining the sustainability of Indonesia’s ecosystems and biodiversity. The active participation of businesses, academics, government institutions, communities, and supporting organizations is expected to create a tangible impact on environmental conservation.
She added that the involvement of UGM students also highlights the strategic role of higher education institutions in advancing scientific development that directly benefits society and the environment.
“We hope this program can become a model for science-based and multi-stakeholder collaboration in conservation area management in the future,” Azarine said.
The Mount Lawu area is known for its rich biodiversity, including endemic flora and wildlife, as well as forest ecosystems that support the livelihoods of surrounding communities. However, increasing human activity in the area has led to various changes that require regular monitoring to preserve ecosystem sustainability. Therefore, the inventory activity involved the collection and documentation of various flora and fauna species found in the Tahura area.
In addition to mapping ecosystem conditions, the activity also aimed to monitor changes in species populations as a basis for future conservation policy-making. Ailesh representative Nova Dewi Soraya stated that biodiversity conservation requires collaboration among multiple stakeholders to ensure the sustainable preservation of ecosystems.
“I believe student involvement in this event is important for connecting scientific knowledge and academic research with conservation area management practices in the field,” she concluded.
Author/Photo: Azarine Malika Zayyan
Editor: Triya Andriyani
Post-editor: Jasmine Ferdian