National Seminar on Wetlands “Mangrove and Peat Ecosystems: Opportunities and Challenges in Sustainable Low Carbon Development”

BANJARMASIN – The Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) of Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) is holding a National Seminar on Wetlands 2023 with the theme “Mangrove and Peat Ecosystems: Opportunities and Challenges in Sustainable Low Carbon Development”. This activity was officially opened by ULM Rector Prof Dr Ahmad Alim Bachri, S.E., M.Si, at the Aria Barito Hotel Banjarmasin, Tuesday (17/10).

In his speech, the Rector conveyed that the holding of this national wetlands seminar was within the framework of ULM’s efforts to carry out the process of disseminating research results that had been conducted by ULM in the field of wetland environments.

Prof. Ahmad also said that from research conducted by researchers at ULM, it was known that around 80% of the approximately 100 thousand hectares of peat land in South Kalimantan had been damaged. Therefore, ULM as a higher education institution also has a moral role and responsibility in preserving the peatland environment in South Kalimantan.

“It is the responsibility of all of us, especially ULM, to make a contribution and carry out environmental improvements to peatlands that have been damaged,” he said.

As a first step, the Rector explained, ULM would map out problems related to the level of damage experienced by 80 percent of the peatlands in South Kalimantan. Then research will be carried out in collaboration involving various external parties to ULM to ensure that what ULM is researching is appropriate to solve the problem.

“In this way, we hope that the existence of ULM for the world, especially for the province of South Kalimantan, can be of optimal benefit,” said the Rector at the end of his speech.

In this seminar, the Director General of Forestry Planning and Environmental Management of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Dr Hanif Faisol Nurofiq, S.Hut., M.P. as keynote speaker. He explained that the implementation of the SNLB was the initial stage of ULM’s steps to become a wetlands research center. He hopes that in the future ULM can continue to carry out similar activities from regional, national to international levels.

“It is mandatory to build international seminar activities. If we want to build an international level research-based university, ULM has great opportunities for that, let’s do it together,” he said.

In line with what the Rector, Dr. Hanif also expressed his attention to the forest and land fires that occurred in South Kalimantan. He advised that the forest and land fires phenomenon needs special attention from all parties, especially LPPM ULM to be able to process a problem mapping design together with the South Kalimantan Regional Peat Restoration Team (TRGD), South Kalimantan Kadishut, and other related stakeholders.