SEAMEO BIOTROP formalized its collaboration with Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park (GGPNP) during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on 18 July 2013 held at the Centre’s headquarters in Bogor. The signing between BIOTROP’s Director, Dr. Bambang Purwantara, and GGPNP’s Head, Mr. Herry Subagiadi, MSc was witnessed by staff members of both parties.

The GGPNP, established in 1980 as a National park, is one of the  41 national parks of Indonesia which is located in Bogor.  It has a total area of  21,975 Ha covering 3 districts of West Java: Cianjur, Sukabumi and Bogor. 

The partnership agreement aims to design a learning center in a designated area within the GGPNP that would be the source of appropriate information and a showcase of good practices in managing Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPS) towards restoring and sustaining a balance forest. SEAMEO BIOTROP will be engaged in research, capacity building, and community development activities in the park and its surrounding areas.

In giving the welcome remarks during the signing ceremony, Dr. Bambang Purwantara expressed his thanks to GGPNP in recognizing BIOTROP as a vital partner in restoring degraded areas in the park due to IAPS.  He said that the collaboration is important to BIOTROP in terms of having a study site in which the Centre can actualize its program thrusts and mandates in a more integrative and continuous manner.

In the same note, Mr. Herry acknowledged that the collaboration is timely considering the expertise of BIOTROP on IAPS control and management which has become a major concern of the Park lately. He said that GGPNP, as one of the remaining tropical rainforests in Java, would need technical help from research and development institutions like BIOTROP for its proper conservation and protection.  The GGPNP also has social economic problems with the people surrounding the park thus, community development and capacity building activities for the surrounding people are also needed.

The MoU is effective until 2016.