Dean of FP UNIB Officially Opens the Forestry Department Public Lecture: Foresters in the Millennial Era
Bengkulu, February 17, 2025 – The Forestry Department of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Bengkulu (FP UNIB), successfully organized a public lecture titled “Foresters in the Millennial Era.” This event featured a keynote speaker, Dr. Ir. Soni Trison, S.Hut., M.Si., IPU., Chairman of Komhindo and Head of the Department of Forest Management at IPB University.
The Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at UNIB, Dr. Indra Cahyadinata, SP., M.Si, officially opened the public lecture. In his opening remarks, he highlighted the current state and various advancements achieved by the Faculty of Agriculture, including the pivotal role of the Forestry Department in addressing challenges in the digital era. Dr Indra also emphasized the importance of foresters adapting to the millennial era to tackle increasingly complex forestry issues.
The Head of the Forestry Department at FP UNIB, Dr. Gunggung Senoaji, also delivered a speech. In his presentation, he underscored the significance of strengthening the roles of academics and practitioners in preserving forest sustainability amid contemporary developments. He further emphasized the necessity of innovation and the utilization of technology in sustainable forest resource management.
The discussion session, moderated by Hefri Oktoyoki, S.Hut., M.Si., was highly interactive, with many students eagerly engaging with the speakers. This event was expected to provide new insights for forestry students in addressing challenges and seizing opportunities in the millennial era. The speakers also highlighted the importance of collaboration, networking, and communication in forestry management. Challenges persist as forestry products remain less attractive to the market. For instance, the timber business is considered less appealing due to its long-term nature, necessitating creative foresters to navigate these challenges. Managing the forestry sector does not need to be intensive but rather extensive and sustainable. Therefore, agroforestry presents a viable long-term business solution in the forestry sector.
Additionally, young entrepreneurs in the forestry sector are encouraged to be capable of producing and effectively marketing their products. The Desa binaan (fostered village) concept has also been proposed to enhance human resource management in the forestry sector. The public lecture also emphasized that career success is determined more by soft skills (85%) than by technical skills (15%), as supported by research from Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and the Stanford Research Center. Hence, forestry students are encouraged to continuously hone their communication, leadership, and collaboration skills to be well-prepared for the workforce.
The public lecture was held at the FP UNIB Dean’s Office from 08:00 to 12:00 WIB. It was attended by students, faculty members, and practitioners who actively support academic activities and the development of forestry sciences at Universitas Bengkulu.
