Yogyakarta- Universitas Gadjah Mada particularly through Faculty of Biology since year 2006 has focused on the development of Education for Sustainable Development programa in Beji, Ngawen and Kemadang villages, Tanjungsari, Gunung Kidul. Many steps of ESD program have been done such as student community service and community assistance by experts and researchers in developing agricultural sector.
Besides, many researches have also been done that are aimed to give assistance and knowledge to the community about the importance of sustainable environmental management in all aspects. The researches include about orchid cultivation in the location.
“The assistance aims to give knowledge to society about the importance of holistic and sustainable environmental management in many aspects such as economy, social and cultural aspects,” said the lecturer of Faculty of Biology UGM, Slamet Widiyanto, S.Si., M.Si, on the sidelines of research result seminar Implementing Graduate Student Research and CEC Establishment, I-MHERE Project, at the Faculty on Thursday (23/12).
Slamet who is also Person in Charge of the seminar added that the event also serves as model of ESD conducted by UGM. Orchids in Wonosadi People's and Tourism Forest in Ngawen, for example, are continously cultivated to avoid damage and extinction. Orchids are one of objects of research conducted by students in I-MHERE project entitled “Study of Diversity and Conservation Efforts of Orchids in Wonosadi, Gunung Kidul Adopting Molecular Approach”, this group is led by Dian Aruni Kumalawati, S.Si.
“Research results presented in the seminar are examples of ESD development,” Slamet added.
There are other researches presented in the seminar, such as Community Empowerment through Cultivation and Conservation of Dioscorea spp. Germplasm at Beji Village, Ngawen, Gunungkidul (head of researchers: Drs Purnomo, M.S.) and Exploration of Genetic Diversity and CVPD Diagnosis on Pamelo and Its Utilization for Improving Welfare of Community in Kemadang Village, Tanjungsari Subdistrict, Gunungkidul (head of researchers: Dra Ratna Susandarini, M.Sc.), Rice Cultivation Innovation with Bio-Organic Fertilizer to Improve Productivity of Three Rice Cultivars (Oryza sativa L) in Rainfed Ricefield in Beji Village, Ngawen, Gunungkidul (head of researchers: Dwi Umi Siswanti, S.Si., M.Sc.,), and Community Empowerment through Cultivation and Utilization of Brucea javanica (L) Merr. As Anticancer Medicinal Plant in Supporting Areas of Wonosadi Forest, Gunungkidul (head of researchers: Elvi Rusmiyanto Pancaning Wardoyo, M.Si.)
“Through I-MHERE project, each research receives a grant as much as 100 million rupiah,” Slamet explained.
The seminar presented several experts and reviewers such as Dr.rer.nat. Ari Indrianto, S.U. (Faculty of Biology), Prof. Dr. Ir. Bambang Hendro Sunarminto, S.U.(Faculty of Agriculture) amd Dr. Ir. Eni Harmayani, M.Sc (Faculty of Agricultural Technology).
Slamet said that the research will be followed up in year 2011 in terms of natural/environmental conservation and possibilities to develop them in local community’s economic sector, such as SME development. The development is particularly related to environment or agricultural sector, including highland and lowland (ocean) plant biodiversity.