Bogor Agricultural University Hosted Tropical and International Forestry Student Program Gunung Walat Education Forest (GWEF) Go International

Gunung Walat Education Forest (GWEF) Go International

At the bbeginning of new year 2011, Faculty of Forestry, Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) hosted the Tropical and International Forestry Student Program of University of Göttingen, Germany. The activity was publisized in the reception of  these students in the function room of  the Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, on the 3rd January 2011, at  Dramaga Campus, Bogor.

Fifteen Materal Degree program students, 2 professors, Prof. Ralph Mithlohner and Prof Hofle from the University of Göttingen, Germany, five students of Bogor Agricultural University, and some students of the University of Gadjah Mada (UGM), are participating such  program at Gunung Walat Education Forest, Sukabumi, for a month, from 3-28 January 2011. Those fiveteen students are  from the Philippines, Kenya, Chili, Guatemala, Nepal, Germany and Indonesia.

Mr. Martin Ehbrecht, oone of the participants from the University of Göttingen, Germany, stated in the  interview that this program is a field project of one of the curriculum offered at the Faculty of Forestry, University of Göttingen, Germany.  "I expect that this program will be implemented routinely. We had been  to the University of Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta  and Banda Aceh," he said.

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the Program who is the students the University of Gadjah Mada, Noni Eko Rahayu, S. Hut., said that every student who is  admitted to the third semester they will be given opportunity to join  this field trip. "This is a new program and is currently in progress.  Every student who joins this activity will be visiting tropical countries. The group  visited the Philippines on the  previous program," he said.

Meanwhile, in the interview on this event, the Executive Director of the Gunung Walat Education Forest, Ir. Budi Prihanto, MS, expected that this Education Forest will  go internationally as many students, researchers, and lecturers from various countries have visited and utilized facilities of this Education Forest which is noted as Leuweung Sakolaan Sagala Bangsa.

Some lecturers and forestry experts, such as Prof. Dr.Ir. Yusuf Sudo Hadi, M.Agr. were among the guests at the Opening Ceremony of this Program. (Wied).