IPB University Holds i-Tree Training
IPB University held i-Tree Training Indonesia for two days. The first day was held at the Salak Mountain Room of the Environmental Research Center (PPLH), IPB Dramaga Campus and the second day at the City Forest (HK) Sangga Buana Pesanggrahan South Jakarta.
The i-Tree Training activity is a collaboration between IPB University and the United States Forest Service (USFS), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Davey Tree, and the Jakarta City Forest and Forest Service (Distamhut). A total of 61 participants attended offline to participate in this training.
The first day began with a speech by Harityas Wiyoga as Country Coordinator from United States Forest Services – International Program (USFS-IP). “USFS always collaborates to carry out i-Tree Tools training,” said Yoga while giving appreciation to IPB University and the executive committee.
Vice Rector of IPB University in the field of Global Connectivity, Collaboration, and Alumni Relations, Prof Iskandar Zulkarnaen Siregar in his speech also said that, “Currently the world is also increasingly talking about agreements that are becoming megatrends, namely about climate change, loss of biodiversity, and pollution problems.”
“To overcome this, global collaboration is needed, such as the collaboration of IPB University and USFS in an effort to popularize the i-Tree application for various purposes. Thus, this collaboration is very important to quantify the existing ecosystem services,” he explained.
Then Aulia Hadi, as the Chairman of the BRIN Community and Culture Research Center (PRMB) in her speech said, “PRMB participates in this training in relation to the involvement of indigenous communities in the forest.”
She explained, the collaboration of PRMB-BRIN with IPB University and USFS started from the joint activities of the Research Desk from the Research Organization Program House (OR) of the Humanities Social Sciences (IPSH) BRIN. Then developed with the support from USFS and IPB University to organize this i-Tree Training.
The first day’s material was delivered by four i-Tree trainers, namely Dr Regan Kaswanto, Amarizni Mosyaftiani, Risdayatri Aulia, and Nada Syasita. Assisted by 10 facilitators.
“The benefit of this i-Tree Training is in the form of updating information about i-Tree, relationships, cooperation, promotion and facility opportunities in carrying out activities related to i-Tree, even opportunities as an i-Tree instructor,” said Dr Kaswanto as the chief executive.
The second day was held directly at HK Sangga Buana with the initial reception by Babeh Idin as the Founder of the Sangga Buana City Forest. He succeeded in turning the garbage disposal area on the edge of the river into a city forest.
In his speech, he said, “Many residents depend their lives on Kali Pesanggrahan so that this city’s forest needs to be managed well.”
Babeh Idin also added, “The Bantaran of Kali Pesanggrahan is planted with rare trees. Now the trees are big and tall. Bamboo trees make the city forest cooler, quieter, and more beautiful.”
Bamboo trees, he explained, have many functions. Bamboo trees are able to absorb toxins in the soil. Likewise with the leaves absorbing toxins in the air.
Then the participants move in groups to measure the tree data on the plots that have been determined. The duration of the plot measurement in each group varies from two to three hours or even more.
The weather was hit by heavy rain shortly after the lunch break. But after that the weather was sunny again so the activity continued with a dialogue discussion for the next future action.
“This is the 2nd i-Tree Eco Training in Indonesia. It has been done last year before. Right now we are also celebrating the 1st anniversary of i-Tree Youth Community which falls on November 10,” explained Dr Kaswanto.
“We invite young people to join in the implementation of i-Tree Tools in every green open space in their domicile. We invite young people to join the instagram @itreecommunity_id,” he explained while inviting young people to use i-Tree Tools more actively. (*/Rz) (IAAS/HLF)
