IPB University Postgraduate School PSL Study Program Holds Guest Lecture on the Implementation of Forest Healing in Perhutani Forest Areas

The Natural Resources and Environmental Management Study Program (PSL) of the Postgraduate School (SPs) of IPB University held a guest lecture discussing the Implementation of the Forest Healing Program in Perhutani Forest Areas as part of Cultural Ecosystem Services, 15/5. This guest lecture invited Bella Baroqah, MM.Par, officer of destination management and marketing of the western region tourism business area of PT Palawi Risorsis.

Prof Lina Karlinasari, Secretary of the Doctoral Study Program of PSL IPB University said that through this guest lecture it was expected to share experiences in the field related to the course of resource ecology and tropical forest environment. She explained, currently most of the students of PSL IPB University have a forestry background, so they are very familiar with tropical forests.

“Students in the half-time before the midterm exam explore more related to forest ecology and in the next half-time, talk more about the services provided by tropical forests,” he said.

Prof Lina Karlinasari explained that presenting speakers who have been involved in forest management for tourism and forest healing will be able to provide valuable experience for students. “I believe that with current cases related to mental health, both through work pressures, daily activities and others, forest healing is one of the efforts to suppress and release and can contribute to relieving stress,” she explained.

Meanwhile, Bella Baroqah, MM.Par said that the background of the establishment of the forest healing program was that during the COVID-19 pandemic natural tourist destinations were predicted to experience a decrease in tourist visits. However, what happened in the field, especially in Ranca Upas, was that tourist visits to forest destinations increased by 20 percent. “Finally, we followed the new normal tourism trend at that time, which prioritized safety and cleanliness and to relieve stress and anxiety, so the concept of healing forest was born as an answer to the wishes of tourists,” she added.

Bella said that the concept of the forest healing program had previously been tested first by making a feasibility study. The results of the study have been published in the proceedings of the IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. “From the results of the published study, there are significant results so that it is feasible to make a forest healing program in a tour package,” she said. (HBL/ra) (IAAS/Aly)