The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Faperta UGM), continued the Summer Course on Sustainable Tropical Agriculture 2025 (SC-STA 2025) on its second day, Tuesday, 5 August 2025, with an educational visit to Wanagama Eco Edu Park, located in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta Special Region.
Participants from various countries, including Singapore, Bangladesh, Gambia, and the Philippines, were guided by Prof. Ir. Irfan Dwidya Prijambada, M.Eng., Ph.D., and Dr. Najmu Tsakib Akhda, S.P., M.Sc., to gain a deeper understanding of the functions and roles of Wanagama Forest in sustainable tropical forestry management.
“Today, the summer course participants were introduced to Wanagama, which plays a vital role in conservation, education, and sustainable research in tropical regions,” explained Prof. Irfan.
During the presentation session, Prof. Irfan shared a brief history and multiple functions of Wanagama Forest, highlighting its role not only as a conservation area but also as a living laboratory for students and researchers.
Following the presentation, participants embarked on a one-kilometer forest exploration, where they learned firsthand about biodiversity, agroforestry systems, and community-based forest management practices implemented in the area.
“I am very happy to explore this cool and refreshing forest today,” said one of the SC-STA 2025 participants from Gambia, West Africa.
The second day at Wanagama Eco Edu Park became one of the key highlights of the program, providing direct experiences and in-depth insights into the importance of sustainable tropical forest management.
To conclude the day’s activities, participants visited a cocoa production center at UPH Ngudiraharjo 2, Plosokerep, Patuk District, Gunungkidul. Here, they learned about the process from cocoa cultivation to chocolate production, which holds economic potential for local communities.
This activity also demonstrated a tangible contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 4: Quality Education, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 15: Life on Land, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Author: Ghorizatu Shofra
Editor: Desi Utami
Photo: Media Faperta