IPB University Supports Wajo Regency as a National Waqf City

IPB University through the Department of Sharia Economics, Faculty of Economics and Management (FEM), continues to be committed in supporting the development of environmentally-based productive waqf concepts. 

One of the concrete steps taken is the involvement in the Study and Workshop on Forest Waqf for the Environment held at the Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Wajo Regency, South Sulawesi (6/3).

Wajo Regency has been designated by the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) as one of six waqf cities in Indonesia by 2024. Besides Wajo Regency, the other waqf cities that have been designated are Gunungkidul Regency (DIY), Central Aceh Regency (Aceh), Tasikmalaya City (West Java), Padang City (West Sumatra), and Siak Regency (Riau).

As the main speaker, Dr Khalifah Muhamad Ali, Chairman of the Department of Sharia Economics FEM IPB University presented a study and workshop on the concept of waqf forest as a solution to environmental and economic sustainability based on productive waqf.

In the workshop session, Dr Khalifah, who is also the Chairman of the Bogor Waqf Forest Foundation, explained the three main objectives of the waqf forest development in Wajo Regency. The first goal is to integrate the waqf forest with Kemenag’s EcoTheology program 2025-2029, which emphasizes the role of religion in environmental conservation.

“Secondly, we plan to build a collaborative action based on the ABCGM pentahelix (academia, business, community, government, and media), which involves various stakeholders in sustainable waqf management,” he explained.

Third, designing a financing scheme and waqf forest management model that can be implemented in the long term. This step is taken so that the waqf forest is not only a symbol, but also provides social, economic, and ecological benefits.

The Chairman of the Regional Office (Kanwil) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Wajo Regency, H Muhammad Subhan, SAg, MPdI also emphasized that environmental conservation, including forests, is part of worship that has a broad impact on the welfare of the people.

Participants consisted of leaders of Religious Affairs Offices (KUA) throughout Wajo Regency, religious leaders, and representatives of various agencies. One of the participants was willing to donate up to 5 hectares of land for the development of the first waqf forest in South Sulawesi.

In his statement, Dr Khalifah expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the local government for their commitment in encouraging environment-based waqf ecosystems. 

“We hope that Wajo Regency can become a model for other regions in sustainable waqf forest management. This is a big step in integrating Islamic values with environmental conservation,” he said.

As part of the sustainability effort, IPB University through the Department of Sharia Economics FEM and the Bogor Waqf Forest Foundation are ready to be a companion in the development of waqf forests in Wajo Regency. 

Dr Khalifah hopes that this academic collaboration can provide technical assistance, research, and sustainable business models so that waqf forests can be managed properly and provide benefits to the local community.

About Department of Sharia Economics FEM IPB University Department of Sharia Economics FEM IPB University is an academic and research center that focuses on the development of Islamic economics, including in the field of productive waqf. Through the study and implementation of sharia-based business models, the department is active in various programs that support the sustainability of waqf-based economy and Islamic finance ecosystem in Indonesia. (IAAS/KDP)