Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) has awarded one of its finest alums, Wahjudi Wardojo, an honorary doctorate in forest resource conservation. This honorary doctorate was conferred on Thursday, August 31, at the UGM Senate Hall.
This honorary doctorate was bestowed upon Wahjudi Wardojo due to his outstanding contributions to forest resource conservation, primarily focusing on biodiversity conservation.
He is recognized for being part of the effort to preserve biodiversity. Moreover, he is acknowledged for his wide-ranging knowledge of the dynamics of biodiversity conservation paradigms at the global and national levels.
Professor Satyawan Pudyatmoko, the head of the honorary doctorate promotion team, stated that during his tenure as a public official, Wahjudi Wardojo has exemplified the qualities of a public policymaker that align with the values of a UGM Forestry Doctoral Program graduate.
He has set an example of dedication to UGM’s mission, which includes education, research, and community service. This has been manifested in his involvement in conserving and preserving biological diversity and ecosystems, particularly in protected conservation areas.
“The development of science conducted by Wahjudi Wardojo has demonstrated significant contributions in the axiology of forest resource conservation management in Indonesia,” Professor Satyawan Pudyatmoko said.
“His career has been marked by leadership, concern for biodiversity, consistency, advocacy, and leadership, which have all contributed to addressing national issues and challenges.”
The Rector of UGM, Professor Ova Emilia, MD, conveyed UGM’s commitment to supporting the preservation of biodiversity in Indonesia.
This includes initiatives such as developing the Indonesian Biodiversity Laboratory Center, advocacy efforts related to the Indonesian Biodiversity Index (IBI) development, green campus policies or ecological engineering, and community service through environmental care activities such as mangrove forest and coastal area rehabilitation programs.
These actions reflect UGM’s commitment to preserving biodiversity in the country.
UGM also appreciates the tangible efforts of its alums in supporting biodiversity conservation programs and expanding the discourse on biodiversity conservation paradigms at the global and national levels.
“As a token of appreciation for his extraordinary contributions to forest resource conservation, UGM has conferred an honorary doctorate upon one of its brightest alumni, Wahjudi Wardojo,” the rector stated.
Professor Emilia mentioned that Wahjudi Wardojo is a dedicated and hardworking individual in the forestry field. Throughout his career at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and during his retirement, he was entrusted to represent Indonesia in various international negotiation forums. His thoughts have been documented in several books and popular media publications.
“May the conferment of this honorary doctorate inspire a renewed spirit to continue advancing scientific knowledge for the betterment of biodiversity preservation and motivate all parties to continue working for the progress of our nation,” she concluded.
During the conferral ceremony, Wahjudi Wardjojo delivered a keynote address titled “Conservation of Biodiversity for the Future: Opportunities and the Role of Indonesia.”
Wahjudi Wardojo was born in Tuban on July 22, 1950. He pursued his undergraduate studies at the UGM Faculty of Forestry and graduated in 1976. In 1990, he completed his M.Sc. in the United States from Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.
Wahjudi Wardojo has had a long and distinguished career in forestry and the environment. He has also been a lifelong learner, serving in various capacities as a policymaker at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry from 1976 to 2009 and part of the World Heritage Committee (WHC) for UNESCO Nature World Heritage for 2015-2019.
He currently serves as a senior advisor at the Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara or YKAN (2009–present) and an Indonesian delegate in international negotiations for the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) (1993 – present).
Wahjudi Wardoyo has actively shared his ideas and thoughts on forestry with seminars and conferences held by various institutions, both domestically and internationally.
He has also produced numerous scholarly works as academic documents, scientific articles, and media publications.
Among his notable works are the books titled “Investing in Biodiversity: A Review of Indonesia’s Integrated Conservation and Development Projects,” published in 1999, and “Inspirasi dari Gunung Gede Pangrango” (Inspiration from Mount Gede Pangrango), published in 2020.
Author: Ika
Photographer: Firsto