The Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) continues to strengthen collaboration with strategic partners in support of environmental conservation and sustainable development. This commitment was reaffirmed through a meeting with PT Adi Askara Bumi held at the Faculty of Forestry Meeting Room on Tuesday (July 28). The discussion focused on opportunities to collaborate on a program to plant 10,000 trees in Deli Serdang Regency through the "New Home Pass, New Tree" environmental initiative.
Before the meeting, the PT Adi Askara Bumi delegation, led by General Manager of Operations Rohmat Pujipurnomo and accompanied by Febriansyah Naufal Akbar, toured several facilities at the USU Faculty of Forestry, including the USU Arboretum. The visit was accompanied by Nur Hidayat, Ida Mallia Ginting, and security personnel from the Faculty of Forestry.
The site visit formed part of the process of identifying potential locations for the tree-planting program. During the inspection, the delegation assessed land conditions, ecosystem characteristics, and site readiness to determine their suitability for supporting a successful reforestation initiative.
Rohmat Pujipurnomo expressed his appreciation for the USU Arboretum and the Faculty of Forestry's environment, describing them as highly suitable for supporting tree-planting activities. According to him, the availability of extensive land, well-preserved ecosystems, and the campus's green environment provide a strong foundation for sustainable greening efforts. He also praised the faculty's educational facilities for effectively supporting education, research, community engagement, and the implementation of the university's three pillars of higher education.
The meeting continued in the Faculty of Forestry Meeting Room and was attended by Dean Prof. Arida Susilowati, accompanied by Vice Dean for Cooperation, Community Service, and Internationalization Dr. Anita Zaitunah, along with Muhammad Teguh, Maulana Hanafi, Ida Mallia Ginting, Nur Hidayat, and Adilla Fatimah Azzahra. Representing PT Adi Askara Bumi were Rohmat Pujipurnomo and Febriansyah Naufal Akbar.
Opening the discussion, Prof. Arida Susilowati presented an overview of the Faculty of Forestry, including its history, academic staff and student profile, as well as its achievements in education, research, community service, and partnerships as part of the university's commitment to the Tri Dharma of Higher Education.
In his presentation, Rohmat Pujipurnomo explained that PT Adi Askara Bumi, a subsidiary of Pertamina, actively implements various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs. The company currently serves as the implementing partner for Link Net's environmental initiative, "New Home Pass, New Tree," under the tagline "One Home, One Tree." The program is based on the concept that every new service installation is accompanied by the planting of one tree as a tangible contribution to environmental conservation.
In 2026, Link Net aims to plant 10,000 trees across Deli Serdang Regency. The initiative builds upon similar successful programs previously carried out in Bali, Bantul, and Ngawi. Through collaboration with the USU Faculty of Forestry, PT Adi Askara Bumi seeks to establish a long-term partnership covering seedling production, tree planting, maintenance, and the development of carbon certification as part of sustainable environmental management.
During the discussion session, Rohmat proposed that the Faculty of Forestry serve as the supplier of tree seedlings for the program. He recommended planting economically valuable species such as benzoin (Styrax spp.) and agarwood (Aquilaria spp.), while also encouraging the use of native tree species suited to the ecological characteristics of North Sumatra. According to him, selecting indigenous species would not only improve the success of land rehabilitation but also generate long-term ecological and economic benefits.
As a follow-up, both parties discussed plans to hold the program's official launch ceremony on September 10 or 11, 2026. The ceremony will mark the beginning of the initiative, while large-scale planting activities are scheduled to commence in October 2026 in Deli Serdang Regency. The event will also feature a public lecture at the USU campus, open to students from various faculties, to raise awareness among young people about environmental conservation and the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration in achieving sustainable development. During the occasion, the Faculty of Forestry and PT Adi Askara Bumi also signed a cooperation agreement.
Through this meeting, the USU Faculty of Forestry and PT Adi Askara Bumi reaffirmed their shared commitment to building a strategic partnership that supports environmental restoration, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable reforestation initiatives. This collaboration between academia and industry is expected to generate tangible benefits for society while contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).