"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.

This partnership reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to strengthening collaboration in addressing challenges related to forest management and environmental conservation in North Sumatra. One of the key focuses of the Cooperation Agreement is the development of the North Sumatra Biodiversity Park (Taman Kehati).

The meeting was held in an interactive atmosphere through presentations and discussions covering various aspects of human resource management at Universitas Sumatera Utara. Topics included staff placement procedures, personnel administration systems, and employees' rights and responsibilities in accordance with applicable regulations.

During discussions with Firsal Ferial Mutyara, affectionately known as Pak Dida, participants explored a range of collaborative initiatives involving the Faculty of Forestry, other faculties within USU, the Honorary Consulate of the Netherlands, and academic partners from various Dutch universities. These initiatives are designed to generate impactful and sustainable programs that advance higher education and benefit society.

More than 30 faculty members and administrative staff participated in a community fun walk across the USU campus and Arboretum, promoting a healthy lifestyle while fostering stronger collegiality and a more harmonious academic community.

Field-based learning extends beyond academic knowledge to character development. Throughout the ten-day field practice, students were encouraged to cultivate discipline, responsibility, teamwork, leadership, and adaptability in a natural environment. To support the demanding field activities, participants also followed a structured fitness program designed to maintain their physical endurance throughout the program.

For the Nandeta Sembur Pratahi business group, knowledge of digital marketing has become an essential asset for sustainable business development. By making optimal use of digital platforms, locally rooted herbal products have greater opportunities to reach wider audiences while enhancing their competitiveness in an increasingly dynamic marketplace.

As part of the product downstreaming process, the Faculty of Forestry USU team assisted in enhancing the product packaging to make it more modern, informative, and appealing to consumers. The new packaging also features the identity of Universitas Sumatera Utara as a symbol of the university's academic support for community product development. This improvement is expected to increase consumer confidence while strengthening the market competitiveness of Nandeta Sembur Pratahi as a local herbal product.

As a strategic networking event, the meeting was held in a warm and collegial atmosphere. The discussions not only strengthened institutional relationships but also marked an initial step toward building closer communication to explore various forms of collaboration in the forestry sector. Through synergy among academia, state-owned enterprises, and industry, the partnership is expected to generate meaningful contributions to sustainable forest resource management.

Responding to the proposal, Prof. Himsar Ambarita emphasized that the success of forestry companies depends not only on technical expertise and regulatory compliance, but also on their ability to build harmonious relationships with local communities. As a native of the Lake Toba region who understands its social and cultural characteristics, he recommended that companies involve a wide range of stakeholders in both the preparation and implementation of business licensing processes, including local governments, religious leaders, churches, indigenous communities, and residents living around the companies' operational areas. He noted that such a collaborative approach is essential for building public trust while creating a conducive and sustainable business environment. “I believe it is important to involve religious leaders, particularly the church,” said Prof. Himsar.