UNS – Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta established Forestry Management Department, Friday (09/06/2019). At the launching conducted in Auditorium of Faculty of Agriculture (FP) UNS, Rector of UNS, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho attended the event with the Director-General of Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership, Dr. Ir. Bambang Supriyanto, M.Sc, Central Java Province’s regional secretary (sekda) Dr. Ir. Sri Puryono Karto Soedarmo, and Commissioner of Bank Mandiri also former Solicitor General, Prof. Dr. R. Widyo Pramono, S.H., M.M., M.Hum.
The launching of Forestry Management Department of FP UNS was marked symbolically by striking a gong five times by the UNS Rector Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, Ir. Sri Puryono, and Dr. Bambang Supriyanto. After the ceremonial, the event was continued with a public lecture titled “The Future of Indonesian Forestry”.
Dean of FP UNS, Prof. Samanhudi, remarked that UNS Forestry Management Department was one of the special departments because this department was requested directly from the Minister of Environment and Forestry (LHK).
“Forestry Management Department was proposed specifically as a request of Minister of LHK when handing over 125 hectares area of Bromo forest in Karanganyar Regency to UNS for Forest Local Area with Special Purpose as well as a forest for education and training,” explained Samanhudi.
The establishment of the Forestry Management Department of FP UNS is officially stated in the Decree of Minister of Research, Technology, and Higher Education No. 1131/KPT/I/2018 issued on December 18, 2018.
By this department, Rector hopes that UNS as an educational institution would be able to see forestry issues in Indonesia using different perspective. For Prof. Jamal Wiwoho, solving forestry management concerns were crucial because, in this rapid information technology era, forestry management could not be separated from the participation of the society.
“Forest management cannot be separated from the innovation of people’s mindset,” he added.
Moreover, he hopes that this department will facilitate ecotourism education to the community in the forestry area. It is intended as a response to the development of information technology in the industrial revolution 4.0.
In the selection for new students 2019, 50 seats of the Forestry Management Department were offered and has already filled with 45 students. It is an outstanding achievement for a brand-new department. The interest of the prospective students in this department expectedly will produce graduates who are competent in forestry management, especially in social forestry. Humas UNS/Yefta/Try