22 July 2024
Anonymous Writer
The Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) again carried out Community Service with the International Partnership scheme in the buffer zone of the Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL), Pamah Semelir, Langkat Regency, North Sumatra to increase its role in the international arena. Unmitigated, this activity was carried out by collaborating with four national and international universities. The universities that participated in this activity were several universities from Malaysia, such as UiTM, UPM, and UM, as well as a national university, Universitas Labuhanbatu. In addition to community service, this activity is also one of the coaching efforts for surrounding universities. The partners who play a role in implementing this International Community Service are bamboo conservation activists in the TNGL buffer zone who are members of the Bamboo Lestari Community (KBL). This pro-conservation community is chaired by Purnama Ginting, one of the community leaders in Telagah Village, Sei Bingei District, Langkat Regency.
The International Abdimas team this time was filled with lecturers from the USU Postgraduate School, Faculty of Forestry, and Faculty of Agriculture consisting of Prof. Rahmawaty, S.Hut., M.Si., Ph.D, Prof. Abdul Rauf, Prof. Agus Purwoko, S.Hut., M.Si, Dr. T. Alief At Thoriq, and Ridahati Rambey, S.Hut., M.Si. At the same time, the international partner lecturers consist of Prof. M Nazip Suratman, Prof. Seca Gandaseca, Dr. Muhammad Fuad Abdullah, and Prof. Muhammad Hasmadi Ismail, lecturers at UiTM and UPM Malaysia. USU also collaborated with Fitra Syawal Harahap, M.Agr, who represented Universitas Labuhan Batu in this activity.
As the executive coordinator, Prof. Rahmawaty explained that this program was funded by the Institute for Community Service (LPPM) of the Universitas Sumatera Utara. With the implementation of this program, USU hopes to play a direct role and participate in the conservation of natural resources and the environment, as well as building strategic partnerships with various national and international partner universities. In her presentation, Prof. Rahmawaty also explained that this activity aims to strengthen local community-based institutions to be more empowered and sustainably develop various natural resource management programs and have high economic benefits. In addition to discussions with multiple parties, this activity also involved planting different types of bamboo on critical land around the village. In addition, USU also helped rebuild various ecotourism facilities based on the utilization of the bamboo ecosystem, which had weakened and almost fell due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022.
The USU Community Service Team also provided facilities to improve community members' production skills in utilizing bamboo, which tends to be abundant in the village. The bamboo is processed into various handicraft products with high economic value, such as miniature ships, ornaments, ashtrays, and other forms of crafts. The different products produced are considered to have high aesthetics. This also increases the selling value of the various products produced. The ecotourism activities offered and the products made through this community are among the supporting commodities in the development of the tourism sector that is rising in this area.
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