UGM Opens The Biological Diversity Currency Profession Procedure

YOGYAKARTA - Faculty of Biology Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) opened a new study program (prodi) in the form of the Biological Diversity Curator Profession Program (PKKH) to produce professionals managing biodiversity at the national and global levels.

Dean of the Faculty of Biology UGM Budi Setiadi Daryono in his statement in Yogyakarta, Saturday, said that the profession of curators of biodiversity is a first step as well as a historical opening to strengthen the strategic position and role of biology in supporting Indonesia as a world megabiodiversity country.

"The opening of this study program, we also want to strengthen the implementation of Presidential Instruction Number 1/2023 concerning the Presence of Biodiversity in Sustainable Development in Indonesia," he said.

According to him, the study was the first study program in Indonesia and Asia to focus on printing liver curators, after Cambridge University, England.

In its implementation, he said, the Faculty of Biology UGM has collaborated with the Indonesian Biological Consortium (KOBI) and the Indonesia Biological Association (IBA) or the Indonesian Biological Sciences Professional Association (PIHI).

Deputy Dean for Research, Service to the Community, Cooperation and Alumni of the Faculty of Biology UGM Eko Agus Suyono said that through the professional education program, participants received an in-depth understanding of biodiversity, practical skills in collection management, and readiness to become leaders in this field.

In addition, he said, the profession of curator of biodiversity is increasingly optimizing the study program network and provides opportunities for alumnus to join the Indonesian Biological Sciences Professional Association (IBA).

IBA was founded in 2022 and domiciled in Yogyakarta as the only professional organization in Indonesia.

"Together an official and legal legal entity that aims to unite, guide and empower Indonesians," he said.

Chairman of IBA Ario Setra Setiadi said that the establishment of the Biodiversity Curator Profession Program of the Faculty of Biology UGM was an important step in ensuring the preservation and further research of Indonesia's biodiversity.

"Having well-trained biodiversity curators is very important. They will not only ensure valuable biological collections are well maintained, but can also play a role in identifying species that require special protection, as well as managing important information about life on earth," he said.

By having quality biodiversity curators, said Ario, it is hoped that Indonesian human resources will be better able to preserve extraordinary biodiversity with complex environmental challenges in the future.