For Prof. Jatna, the award does not mark the end of his journey. Instead, he sees it as a reminder that there is still a long way to go in fulfilling his responsibility to science and Indonesia\u2019s natural environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c I accept this award not as a sign that the journey has come to an end, but as a reminder that our responsibility to science and Indonesia\u2019s natural environment is far from over,\u201d said Prof. Jatna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The journey began with field research. Prof. Jatna developed his passion for research through studies of orangutans and red langurs in Tanjung Puting National Park, Central Kalimantan. From the forest, his work expanded into various fields that brought together research, education, conservation, and environmental policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He led Conservation International Indonesia from 1995 to 2010 and founded the Research Center for Climate Change, Universitas Indonesia (RCCC-UI) in 2010 in response to the challenges posed by climate change. At FMIPA UI, he also helped initiate the SDG Hub in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These efforts have gone hand in hand with his contributions at the international level. Prof. Jatna has been entrusted with serving as a Co-chair<\/em> the Southeast Asia Primate Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and has served on the steering committee of the Center for Nature-Based Climate Solutions at the National University of Singapore. His academic track record is also reflected in more than 240 scientific publications in international journals and 30 books on environmental topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n From Forests to Policy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For Prof. Jatna, biodiversity research does not end with data collection or scientific publications. Knowledge generated through field research needs to be translated into a foundation for decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This perspective was also reflected in the 2026 Sarwono Prawirohardjo Memorial Lecture delivered by Prof. Dr. Gono Semiadi, Research Professor at the BRIN Research Center for Biosystematics and Evolution. In his lecture, Gono emphasized the importance of science-policy interface<\/em>, the connection between scientific evidence and nature conservation policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This perspective is closely aligned with Prof. Jatna\u2019s decades-long work in connecting conservation research with real-world challenges in the field. For him, science should have a meaningful impact on people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cScience must not stop at journals, seminar rooms, or library shelves. Science must serve life,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This perspective also stems from the way Prof. Jatna views forests. Forests are not merely collections of trees, but living spaces and sources of knowledge about evolution, climate adaptation, food, medicine, water, and culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, conservation cannot be separated from human life. Well-preserved forests and landscapes are closely linked to water management, carbon storage, biodiversity, food, livelihoods, and the development of nature-based tourism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conservation as an Investment in the Future<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This perspective has also evolved through several of Prof. Jatna\u2019s works on the relationship between communities and environmental sustainability. At the launch and discussion of his three books, he emphasized the community\u2019s important role in conservation efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three books are: Etnobiologi dan Konservasi Sumber Daya Hayati Berbasis Masyarakat Adat di Indonesia<\/em>, Pariwisata dan Perubahan Iklim<\/em>, as well as Biologi Konservasi Indonesia<\/em>, share a common message: the protection of natural areas and wildlife must go hand in hand with scientific knowledge, policy, economic activities, and community participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEfforts to protect nature require the integration of scientific knowledge, policy, economic activities, and active community participation,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Within this framework, ecosystem restoration goes beyond tree planting. Restoration efforts must encompass the recovery of ecological functions and biodiversity, research and monitoring, the selection of adaptive plant species, as well as collaboration with communities and stakeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Four decades of Prof. Jatna\u2019s journey demonstrate how the field of conservation biology can extend from field research into education, policymaking, and international collaboration. The recognition he received through the 2026 Sarwono Award also places this journey in a broader context: protecting Indonesia\u2019s biodiversity is not only about saving species, but also about preserving the ecological foundations that sustain human life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From forests that serve as spaces for research to policy arenas that shape the future of the environment, conservation ultimately rests on one fundamental principle: using scientific knowledge as a foundation for understanding nature while safeguarding its long-term sustainability.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Depok, 14 September 2026 \u2014 Indonesia adalah salah satu laboratorium alam terbesar di dunia. Lebih dari 17 persen jenis burung dunia hidup di Indonesia, bersama lebih dari 770 jenis mamalia, 16 persen spesies reptil dan amfibi, serta lebih dari 31.000 jenis tumbuhan berpembuluh. Kekayaan tersebut menjadikan Indonesia sebagai salah satu negara dengan keanekaragaman hayati paling […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":15693,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15692","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-berita"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sci-ui.id\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/sci-940.jpeg\")
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