HUMAS FAHUTAN — The Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), continues to strengthen its role in supporting environmental conservation and the development of conservation areas. One of these strategic efforts was demonstrated through its participation in a planning meeting for the development of a Biodiversity Park (Taman Kehati), organized by the North Sumatra Provincial Environment and Forestry Agency (DLHK) in the Meeting Room on the 1st Floor of the North Sumatra Provincial DLHK Office on Tuesday (26/5).
The meeting discussed plans for the development of the Biodiversity Park, which is proposed to be located within the Arboretum of the Faculty of Forestry USU at Campus 2 Kwala Bekala as part of the North Sumatra Provincial Strategic Program (PSD) for 2024–2029. The activity was attended by representatives of the North Sumatra Provincial DLHK, the Faculty of Forestry USU, and the Biodiversity Park development formulation team.
The Faculty of Forestry USU was represented by the Vice Dean for Administration, Finance, Human Resources, and Academic Infrastructure, Dr. Ir. Luthfi Hakim, S.Hut., M.Si., IPM., ASEAN Eng., accompanied by the Head of the Master’s Program in Forestry, Dr. Ir. Samsuri, S.Hut., M.Si., IPM., ASEAN Eng., and Yunus Afifuddin, S.Hut., M.Si.
During the meeting, participants discussed the direction of the area development plan, the stakeholders who would be involved, and the initial steps needed to support the establishment of the Biodiversity Park within the Faculty of Forestry USU. The presence of this area is expected not only to serve as a conservation site but also to become a facility for education, research, and the sustainable development of scientific knowledge.
The planned development of the Biodiversity Park is considered to have significant potential to strengthen the role of the Faculty of Forestry USU Arboretum as a natural laboratory for students, lecturers, researchers, and the wider community. In addition, the area is expected to serve as an environmental education space that supports biodiversity conservation efforts in North Sumatra.
Through this initial coordination, the Faculty of Forestry USU and the North Sumatra Provincial DLHK are committed to continuing communication and technical discussions to support the realization of the Biodiversity Park development. This collaboration represents an important step toward establishing a conservation area that provides sustainable benefits for education, research, and environmental preservation.
This initiative is also aligned with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through the strengthening of educational functions, biodiversity conservation, and collaboration between higher education institutions and regional government.