With the theme “We Strive at 45”, BIOTROP launched three special initiatives under its 9th Five-Year Development Plan (2012-2017), formalized collaboration with two new partner-institutions, and exhibited recent accomplishments to mark its 45th anniversary celebration on 6 February 2013 held at its Conventional Hall in Bogor. The celebration heralded BIOTROP’s continuous efforts in research, capacity building, and information exchange as SEAMEO’s centre of excellence in tropical biology in the Southeast Asian region.
In his welcome remarks, BIOTROP Director Dr Bambang Purwantara shared and enjoined the audience to be one with the Centre’s new vision in becoming “A leading Centre in enriching and promoting the real values of tropical biology in Southeast Asia.” Thus, the Centre’s mission is “To provide scientific knowledge and capacity building in conserving and managing tropical biology sustainably for the well-being of communities and the environment of Southeast Asia.” Dr. Bambang further explained that BIOTROP activities are now organized around two major program thrusts, namely: Tropical Biology for Community Welfare and Tropical Biology for Environmental Integrity, which are expected to contribute in addressing poverty and climate change concerns in the region and beyond.
As the Centre’s special guest, the Honorable Vice Mayor of Bogor City Drh. Ahmad Ru’yat expressed his full support in actualizing BIOTROP’s vision-mission especially in the area of environmental sustainability. He cited that the City government’s recent collaboration with BIOTROP in conducting a contest on Mapping of Bogor Biodiversity using GPS among high school/vocational high school students held on 2 February 2013 is one concrete indication of such support. He urged BIOTROP to aggressively communicate its programs and activities to its stakeholders for greater impact especially in Bogor where it is located. 
The three BIOTROP Special Initiatives launched during the celebration were the (1) Bi-Annual International Conference on Tropical Biology, (2) Youth Environmental Outreach (YEO) Grants Program, and the (3) Establishment of the Southeast Asian Network for the Advancement of Research and Training in Tropical Biology (SEANARTTroBio).
The Bi-Annual International Conference generally aims to communicate best practices, technological innovations, new perspectives and opportunities on enhancing and promoting the real values and benefits of SEA’s tropical biodiversity for community welfare and environmental integrity.
For the YEO Grants Program, BIOTROP hopes to heighten the roles of the youth in helping realize the real values of tropical biology for community welfare and environmental integrity by supporting the implementation of meritorious action research projects from deserving youth organizations.
On the other hand, SEANARTTroBio is envisioned to serve as a forum for exchanging information and experiences among researchers and trainers and a venue for them to establish collaboration towards the advancement of tropical biology in the region.
BIOTROP added Koperasi Susu dan Usaha Peternakan (KPS) Bogor and CV Cita Insani Mandiri in its growing list of partner-institutions when it sealed memoranda of understanding with them during the anniversary celebration. (click here for related article)
Winners of BIOTROP’s biodiversity conservation photo competition (click here for related article) and mapping of Bogor Biodiversity contest (click here for related article) were also announced during the celebration.
Aside from the Vice Mayor of Bogor City, the event was attended by 300 other guests representing various relevant government agencies, universities, schools, private companies, and non-government organizations with whom BIOTROP has collaborated with.
Several local newspaper and TV station reporters were also present to cover the celebration. In the afternoon, BIOTROP’s program thrusts became the featured topic during the live interactive radio program of Radio Republic Indonesia with Centre’s Board of Directors as resource persons.
