Bogor, October 7, 2026 - The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) emphasized the importance of education in raising awareness and encouraging concrete action for biodiversity conservation. This was conveyed at the opening of the 5th International Conference on Tropical Biology (ICTB) 2026 in Bogor, which brought together researchers, academics, educators, policymakers, students, and stakeholders from various countries on Monday (October 5).
On the occasion, Moch. Abduh, Expert Staff for Educational Technology at the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, stated that biodiversity is the foundation of life, supporting food systems, the economy, cultural heritage, and ecological balance. However, biodiversity loss, climate change, land degradation, and unsustainable development are challenges that require collaboration across countries, disciplines, and generations. He stated that education is a crucial instrument for building a sustainable future.
Abduh explained that education not only serves to convey knowledge, but also shapes human thinking, attitudes, and relationships with the environment. Therefore, learning needs to provide direct experience so that students are able to understand ecosystems and contribute to nature conservation. He emphasized, "A school is also not separate from its environment. Instead, the environment itself should be a living classroom. Forests, rivers, mountains, coastal areas, and national parks can be used as learning spaces to connect scientific knowledge with real conditions," he said at ICTB 2026 and the launch of PROTIBAGURU (Sustainable Teacher Good Practices Program) in Bogor (5/10).
Meanwhile, SEAMEO BIOTROP Director Edi Santosa stated that the challenge of biodiversity conservation cannot be solved by a single country, institution, or scientific discipline. He believes that a strong connection between science, education, innovation, policy, and regional collaboration is necessary.
Furthermore, the Coordinator of ICTB 2026, Dewi Suryani, explained that this conference serves as a platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration development in tropical biology. ICTB 2026 received 51 research papers/works, consisting of 43 oral presentations and eight poster presentations. This activity was attended by approximately 200 participants including students, teachers, and speakers from nine countries: Algeria, Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland, Thailand, and Timor-Leste. She hopes this conference can strengthen collaboration to support a sustainable future for the tropics.
Support for cross-border collaboration was also expressed by the Deputy Director for Programme and Development of the SEAMEO Secretariat, John Arnold Sasi Siena, who emphasized that strategies for biodiversity conservation, research, and governance need to transcend geographical boundaries. He also expressed his hope that ICTB 2026 would produce concrete outputs, including policy recommendations, scientific publications, and regional networks to strengthen long-term collaboration.
On the same occasion, Alim Setiawan, President of IPB University and a member of the Governing Board of SEAMEO BIOTROP from Indonesia, added that scientific knowledge needs to be applied in real-world policies and practices. Alim stated that conservation efforts require biodiversity education, environmental literacy, technological innovation, and collaboration between universities, the government, research institutions, communities, and the private sector.
ICTB 2026 provides an opportunity to expand collaborative networks and bring together diverse ideas to address the challenges of tropical biodiversity conservation. The meeting is expected to open up more opportunities for collaboration in research, education, and community implementation to support environmental sustainability. *** (Author: Ririn/Documentation: SEAMEO Biotrop Team/Editors: Denty, Seno).
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