Biodiversity crisis has become an environmental issue which is faced by the world’s community.
This biodiversity issue arises in line with the increase of human population, land degradation, as well as deforestation which are not followed by the alignment of economic and development policies. In addition, this biodiversity issue becomes one of the important agendas of UNESCO which is mentioned in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
This reality encouraged Universitas Gadjah Mada which was initiated by Faculty of Biology and Environmental and Disaster Mitigation Clinic, Faculty of Geography to build a collaboration with Center for Biotechnology Research and Forest Plant Breeding, Indonesian Ministry of Living Environment and Forestry as well as several representatives of ASEAN countries supported by Sinarmas in education, research, and environmental conservation sectors. The collaboration is realized in the form of a network namely ASEAN Biodiversity Network.
The formation of ASEAN Biodiversity Network was started by holding 2nd Joint Seminar on Biodiversity and Conservation which entitled Integrated Approach in Achieving Environmental Sustainable Development of Tropical Biodiversity on Thursday (1/2) at Sinarmas B Building, Faculty of Biology UGM.
The seminar was officially opened by Director General of Conservation and Natural Resources, Ministry of Living Environment and Forestry, Ir. Wiratno, M.Sc. During his opening speech, Wiratno delivered a social issue which threatens the biodiversity. Therefore, it requires an immediate solution, thus the biodiversity can continue to be preserved.
This seminar presented three main speakers, they were Prof. Dr. Endang Sutraningsih Soetarto, M.Sc. (Microbiology Laboratorium, Faculty of Biology UGM), Prof. Datin Dr. Maryati binti Mohamed (Faculty of Applied Science and Technology Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia) and ILG. Nurtjahjaningsih, Ph.D. from Center for Biotechnology Research and Forest Plant Breeding, Ministry of Living Environment and Forestry.
Followed by a panel discussion by two invited speakers, they were Prof. Madya Dr. Alona Cuevas Linatoc (Faculty of Applied Science and Technology Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia UTHM) and Dr. Haskarlianus Pasang (Head of Sustainability Policy and Compliance Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food).
On the occasion, a discussion regarding cooperation opportunity in biodiversity and biotechnology sector was held by the representatives of Faculty of Biology, Geography, Forestry, Agriculture, and Pharmacy UGM, ASEAN Centre of Biodiversity, Songkla University, UTHM, and Sinarmas. Aside from the making of the draft of MoU, a discussion regarding summer school as the next agenda in the establishment of ASEAN Biodiversity Network was also held in the event. (Humas UGM/Fiki)