Prof. Dr. Jatna Supriatna, Professor of the Department of Biology, FMIPA UI, has entered his retirement period on October 1, 2021. Marking his retirement, he delivered a speech entitled Conservation Biology: Saka Guru Pelestarian dan Wisata hidupanliar as well as the launch of an autobiographical book that tells the life journey of the scientist and environmental figure who is often described as the "Begawan Konservasi Alam" (Nature Conservation Guru), on Tuesday (12/10/2021).
In his speech, Prof. Jatna said that as a young branch of science, conservation biology is based on the results of integration and synthesis of many basic biological sciences; genetics, evolutionary biology, population biology, biogeography, and ecology. This scientific discipline began to appear when the science of community ecology and island biogeography developed very rapidly with many theories emerging in the 1960s and 1970s.
Nature and biodiversity provide an extraordinary emotional sensation, acting as a psycho-spiritual source for humans. Being close to nature provides peace for anyone. Nature continues to provide inspiration, for creative work through the extraordinary aesthetic value of biodiversity. Nature is indeed unique, and makes humans curious and explore it. There is an invaluable inner satisfaction in the human heart when exploring nature.
The tourism sector is currently the hope of many people because Indonesia's nature is a leading mega biodiversity in the world. One of the tourism sectors that is also developing is wildlife tourism, nature tourism, and tourism related to ecosystems. Wildlife tourism is one of the options in promoting a unique environment that is maintained in its originality as well as a tourist visit area. Its potential is formulated in the concept of environmental development based on nature conservation.
"An area will be of high value and become a unique attraction if there is a unique species or ecosystem," said Prof. Jatna.
In addition to the speech, an autobiographical book entitled Jejak Selusur Sebuah Petualang, Pendidik dan Entrepreneur Peri Kehidupan Alam was also launched. The work that tells the story of his youth to old age adventuring in the forests of Indonesia and 80 countries in the world was written by Prof. Jatna himself, and published by Yayasan Obor.
"I tell my life journey not with the intention of being flattered, praised, famous and the like that is showing off and proud. God willing, I do not mean those things. Indeed, I am also a bit confused about how I tell the story so that it does not lead to pride and self-esteem, but trying to tell about the work of an adventurer, educator, researcher and nature conservation activist," he said.
“This book was written in a very short time when I had to stay at home continuously for more than a year during the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic made me very productive in writing. I filled my time by writing books and papers. But I was not so happy because I could not meet face to face with students who were thirsty for knowledge”, continued Prof. Jatna.
Not only sharing stories about his adventures from his youth to his twilight, through this book, which is almost 500 pages thick, he wants to motivate readers, especially the younger generation with an interest in environmental sustainability, who are expected to become the next generation to carry on his baton.
At the event broadcast live through the official FMIPA UI YouTube channel, a Webinar on Endemic Species Conservation vs Sustainable Wildlife Tourism was also held by presenting a number of experts and practitioners in the field of conservation, namely, Ir. (Director General of KSDSE KLHK), Dr. Frans Teguh, M.A. (Expert Staff of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy), Stave Noakes (Ecolodge Indonesia), Dr. Samedi (Director of TFCA, Sumatra, Kehati), Lukita Awang Nistyantara, S. Hut., M. Si. (Head of Komodo National Park), and Arief Setiawan, S. Hut. (SwaraOwa).
At this event, we also expressed our congratulations and gratitude as well as testimonials from Dr. Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, B.B.A., M.B.A. (Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency), and colleagues, namely, Dr. Alue Dohong (Deputy Minister of Environment and Forestry), and Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Abdul Haris (Vice Chancellor for Education and Student Affairs UI and Professor of FMIPA UI), Prof. Sumi Hudiyono PWS (Chairman of the Board of Professors of FMIPA UI), Prof. Dr. Soekarja Somadikarta (Prof. Emeritus of Biology FMIPA UI).
Environmental science guru and AIPI member Prof. Dr. Emil Salim, M.A., Ph.D. also gave testimony along with Prof. Ir. Rachmat Witoelar (Minister of Environment and Forestry 2004-2009), Dr. rer. nat. Yasman (Head of the Department of Biology, FMIPA UI), and Kartini Nurdin (Yayasan Pustaka Obor Indonesia). All of the testimonies exposed Prof. Jatna as a prima donna in his field of preserving biodiversity, especially biology and zoology.
Prof. Jatna Supriatna, was born on September 7, 1951 in Gianyar, Bali. He has been an environmental sustainability activist for more than 40 years. Not only dedicating himself to UI but he is also active in providing knowledge outside the campus with the spirit to guide students and colleagues to share knowledge. He has guided masters and doctors at several universities in Indonesia such as IPB University and the University of North Sumatra also in Malaysia (Universitas Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universitas Putra Malaysia) and also in Australia (Australian National University).
In addition to actively teaching and researching, he is also active in various organizational activities. He is trusted to carry out the mandate as a leader in the organization, including Jatna holding the position of Executive Director, then appointed as Vice President of Conservation International in Indonesia, Director of the Institute for Sustainable Earth and Resources (ISER) FMIPA UI, and Co-chair, United Nations Sustainable Development Solution Network (SDSN) for Indonesia. In 2011, he was appointed by the President of the Republic of Indonesia as a member of the Basic Science Commission, Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI) because his expertise and achievements were considered to have a positive impact on the development and utilization of science for the government and society to achieve national goals. Since 2017 until now, he has also been the Chair of the Indonesian Environmental Scholars Association.
Prof. Jatna's work in the field of conservation biology has been recognized worldwide. Due to his commitment and consistency in pursuing the field of conservation biology, he has succeeded in achieving brilliant achievements that have been rewarded with various national and international awards.
Some of the national awards he has won include the B.J. Habibie Award in 2008 in the field of Natural Sciences, the Achmad Bakrie Awards in the field of Basic and Environmental Sciences from the Freedom Institute, Jakarta in 2011, the best senior researcher from the University of Indonesia, and the winner of the best publication at the University of Indonesia in 1991.
He has also won a number of international awards, starting from the Netherland Golden Ark Award for Nature Conservation by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands in 1999, the Terry MacManus Award from Conservation International, Washington DC in 2010, to the Lifetime Achievement and Leadership in the Field of Biodiversity Conservation from Conservation International, Washington DC, USA in 2017.
Not only that, this doctoral graduate from the University of New Mexico, United States in 1991 has also been recorded as receiving research funding from leading research institutions in the world, one of which is a research grant from US AID for Climate Change, Newton Fund, UK to study Biodiversity and Economy in Wallacea in 2018. The various funding gains also add to the long list of achievements of this nature lover as well as proof of his struggle and commitment to dedicating himself to the environment.
His activities as an educator and also as an environmental activist and wildlife conservationist have made him widely invited to various national and international seminars, and he is well known by world conservation figures. His long journey of participating in global research, seminars and international conventions has been described in his new book entitled "Autobiography of Jatna Supriatna: Jejak Selusur Sebuah Petualang, Pendidik, dan Wiraswasta Perikehidupan Alam" published by Yayasan Obor, Jakarta.
Until now, there are 21 books published by Pustaka Obor in Indonesian and in English by Springer. In addition, there are also more than 150 scientific works published in reputable international journals such as Nature, Science, Scientific Reports, Conservation Biology, Global Eecology and COnservation and others. More than 100 papers have been presented by Prof. Jatna in scientific meetings in Indonesia and abroad. As well as dozens of articles in the newspapers Kompas, Sinar Harapan, Jakarta Post and others
News source: https://sci.ui.ac.id/
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