The Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), held a public lecture themed “A New Paradigm for Community-Based Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) Development” on Thursday (September 10, 2026), at the Lecture Room of the Faculty of Forestry USU, Bekala Campus 2, Deli Serdang. The activity was attended by students as part of efforts to broaden their knowledge and understanding of NTFP management and development oriented toward community empowerment.
The public lecture featured Sahwalita, S.Hut., M.P., from the Palembang Social Forestry Center as the speaker. The participation of a practitioner from outside the academic environment of the Faculty of Forestry USU provided students with broader perspectives on the dynamics of NTFP development and its implementation in the context of community-based forest management.
The activity was also attended by the Vice Dean for Education, Student Affairs, and Alumni Affairs of the Faculty of Forestry USU, Dr. Tito Sucipto; Head of the Undergraduate Program in Forestry, Dr. Evalina Herawati; Secretary of the Undergraduate Program in Forestry; as well as managers of the Faculty of Forestry USU, namely Dr. Nelly Anna, and NTFP lecturer Dr. Iwan Risnasari.
In her presentation, Sahwalita shared knowledge and perspectives on a new paradigm in NTFP development that positions communities as an important part of forest resource management and utilization. A community-based approach is relevant to promoting the productive utilization of forest potential while taking into account resource sustainability and increasing benefits for communities.
The public lecture also served as a learning forum that brought together academic perspectives and practical experience. Students had the opportunity to deepen their understanding of NTFPs while exploring opportunities for their development as part of forest management that provides sustainable economic, social, and ecological benefits.
Through this activity, the Faculty of Forestry USU continues to promote adaptive learning that is open to diverse perspectives from practitioners and institutions outside the campus. Strengthening students' knowledge is expected to help develop future foresters who possess not only academic competencies but also an understanding of community needs and the challenges of forest resource management in the field.
The activity is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 15 – Life on Land, through strengthening understanding of the sustainable utilization of forest resources, and SDG 4 – Quality Education, through the provision of learning opportunities that enrich students' knowledge and perspectives.