SEAMEO BIOTROP in cooperation with IPB University, IPB Alumnus Association, the Ministry of Environment, and Bogor Botanical Gardens, is conducting a National Rare Plant Conservation Movement. This project is intended to preserve and protect invaluable and intangible knowledge asset of Indonesia biodiversity. The implementation will last three years until 2022.

Indonesia, as one of the mega biodiversity countries, is gifted with rich natural resources and endemic species, both for wetland ecosystem, forest, savanna, mountain ecosystem, etc. This opportunity becomes one of the basic capitals for the country's sustainable development efforts. On the other hand, the threat to rare trees in Indonesia is getting bigger because of the existence of over-utilization, the conversion of the land function of the tree habitat into a settlement due to population development, a decrease in the quality of genetic variation and tree health due to habitat destruction, and limited seed distribution and flower pollination due to the limited number of animals which help regenerating trees.

The grand launching of this movement had been held in the open field of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) of IPB University, Dramaga Campus, on 11 September 2019, by IPB Rector, Dr Arif Satria, followed by the planting activity of some rare plant species in front of FMIPA Auditorium.

In his opening remarks, Dr Arif Satria said, "This rare tree conservation movement is an urgent and important thing to do immediately in order to save Indonesian rare trees. If we are late in doing so, Indonesia will lose its invaluable assets. Efforts can be made by maintaining its presence in nature and by rehabilitating land through planting rare trees throughout the archipelago. Therefore, we invite all parties to participate actively in this movement."

On the same occasion, the Rector of Wageningen University & Research, the Netherlands, Prof Arthur P.J. Mol, also joined the launching and planting activity. The movement is in line with the UniversiTREE program to celebrate 100 years of Wageningen University & Research.

BIOTROP’s Deputy Director for Administration who is also the Steering Committee Coordinator of the movement, Dr Zulhamsyah Imran said that the trees planted during the launching were Rasamala (Altingia excelsa Noronha), Ebony (Diospyros celebica), Light Red Meranti (Shorea palembanica), Red Meranti (Shorea selanica), Ulin (Eusideroxylon zwageri Teijsm & Binn), Hollong (Dipterocarpus retusus), Pacific teak (Intsia bijuga), and Hopea (Hopea nigra). “BIOTROP, together with Bogor Botanical Gardens and the Ministry of Environment, is ready to supply the tree seedlings for this movement,” he said.