HUMAS FAHUTAN – In celebration of World Nature Conservation Day 2026, the Regional Executive Board (DPW) of the Indonesian Association of Environmental Scholars (PERWAKU) North Sumatra collaborated with several public and private universities in Medan to organize a community service program entitled "Community Service Collaboration between PERWAKU North Sumatra and Public and Private Universities in Medan in Commemoration of World Nature Conservation Day." The event was held at Medan Magnet, Suka Makmur Village, Kutalimbaru District, Deli Serdang Regency, on Wednesday (15/7/2026).
The initiative served as a tangible demonstration of collaboration among professional organizations, higher education institutions, the village government, and local communities in strengthening environmental conservation efforts while promoting community empowerment through conservation-based initiatives. More than 100 participants from universities across Medan took part in the event, which featured the planting of approximately 600 seedlings to support environmental restoration and increase vegetation cover in the area.
The Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) actively participated through the involvement of several faculty members, including Dr. Ma'rifatin Zahrah, Dr. Bejo Slamet, Dr. Pindi Patana, Dr. Nurdin Sulistiyono, and Dr. Ridahati Rambey. The faculty's participation was further strengthened by the involvement of Forestry students Raja Kuat Subhari, Adilvi Oka, and Najwa, who took part directly in the community service activities and tree-planting campaign. Dr. Arlen, Chair of PERWAKU North Sumatra, expressed his appreciation for the remarkable enthusiasm shown by participants from various higher education institutions.
"As the Chair of PERWAKU, I am deeply touched and proud of the success of this event, which brought together more than 100 participants from various universities across Medan. Their enthusiasm reflects the strong environmental awareness and commitment of the younger generation and the academic community to advancing environmental conservation and the sustainable development of bamboo resources," he said.
On the same occasion, Dr. Arlen also expressed his appreciation to the Suka Makmur Village Government and the Bukit Marga Silima Farmers Group for their full support in organizing the event.
"We sincerely thank the Village Head and the Bukit Marga Silima Farmers Group for their support, cooperation, and active participation in making this event a success. We hope the synergy between universities, the village government, and the local community will continue to grow, enabling future community empowerment and environmental conservation programs to deliver lasting benefits for society," he added.
Through this collaborative initiative, PERWAKU North Sumatra and its university partners demonstrated that community service is not only an integral part of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, but also an important platform for fostering collective awareness of the importance of conserving natural resources. The planting of approximately 600 seedlings is expected to serve as a long-term ecological investment that will improve environmental quality, preserve ecosystem sustainability, and generate social and economic benefits for surrounding communities.
The program also highlights the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in advancing sustainable development, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 15 (Life on Land) through ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by strengthening partnerships among professional organizations, universities, local governments, and communities to create lasting positive impacts for the environment and future generations.