Enviro News Asia, Kendari — Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry is encouraging young people in Southeast Sulawesi to develop innovative solutions for forest conservation and biodiversity protection, with 35 members of its Forest Conservation Generation, known as Genries, participating in a regional youth summit.
The Forest Youthverse Summit (FYV Summit), held in Southeast Sulawesi under the theme “Guardians of Wallacea: Create Innovation, Take Action, Protect Biodiversity,” brought together young people to develop ideas and build partnerships with government institutions, academics, communities and other stakeholders.
Luckmi Purwandari, head of the ministry’s Center for Forest Conservation Generation Development (Pusgenri), said Southeast Sulawesi was part of the ecologically significant Wallacea region, which is home to distinctive biodiversity, including the endangered anoa and the maleo bird. Its landscapes range from lowland and mountain forests to coastal and marine ecosystems.
She urged participants to turn their ideas into practical, sustained conservation initiatives rather than allowing them to remain proposals discussed at a forum.
“Innovation does not have to be complicated. A simple idea that addresses a problem in our surroundings can become the starting point for a much larger solution,” Luckmi said.
She outlined three priorities for the participants: understanding local natural resources, preventing threats and protecting biodiversity, and strengthening collaboration among stakeholders. Ideas developed through the summit’s Innovation Board are expected to provide a foundation for further action.
One proposal came from participant Ardi Wijaya, who introduced the concept of a floating garden as an alternative way to use water-based spaces for plant cultivation.
Ardi said the idea reflected young people’s potential to develop solutions based on local resources and community needs. He expressed hope that the concept could be assessed and further developed through collaboration with organisations and experts possessing the necessary knowledge and resources.
The head of the Southeast Sulawesi Forestry Office, Ardiansyah, also stressed the importance of partnerships in supporting the Genries movement. He welcomed the participants’ ideas and said collaboration was needed to turn their proposals into practical conservation activities.
The summit marks an initial step in building a regional network of Genries in Southeast Sulawesi. The 35 participants are expected to serve as pioneers, encouraging more young people to take an active role in protecting forests and biodiversity.
With support from the ministry’s Regional Forest Area Consolidation Office XXII in Kendari and other stakeholders, the initiative aims to connect youth-led ideas with mentoring, skills development and opportunities to implement conservation projects.
The Forestry Ministry said forest and biodiversity protection required participation beyond government institutions, with young people playing an important role in safeguarding the natural heritage of Wallacea for present and future generations. (*)
