The FMIPA UI Community Service Team, chaired by Dr. Retno Lestari, developed the “Arboretum Durio Botanica” as a botanical garden and durian conservation center located in Gandasoli Village, Sukabumi.
In developing the “Arboretum Durio Botanica” the team collaborated with the Pandu Cendekia Foundation and was supported by the Directorate of Research and Community Service of the University of Indonesia (DRPM UI).
The activities, which were carried out from February to October 2019, were carried out in stages, starting from clearing conservation land, searching for seeds, to planting various types of durian trees from various regions in Indonesia.
Retno menjelaskan pemilihan Desa Gandasoli sebagai lokasi, dikarenakan daerah tersebut terkenal sebagai penghasil durian berkualitas dan merupakan bagian dari Geopark Ciletuh Pelabuhan Ratu yang merupakan kawasan yang menyerasikan keragaman geologi, hayati, budaya melalui prinsip konservasi, edukasi, dan pembangunan berkelanjutan.
“Arboretum Durio Botanica merupakan konsep untuk mengembangkan kawasan konservasi durian dari puluhan spesies, ratusan hingga ribuan varietas yang ada di nusantara maupun mancanegara”. ungkap Retno.
The initial step in durian conservation activities was carried out by planting durian seedlings. Together with the residents of Gandasoli Village, the UI Community Service Team and the Pandu Cendekia Foundation provided facilities, namely durian planting training and seedling donations to be planted in the Gandasoli Village area.
Then, the team together with the Pandu Cendekia Foundation and the Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) prepared 5 hectares of land for the arboretum area which would later be promoted as an integrated tourism area, with a home stay concept.
In addition, facilities will also be built for tourists, including hygienic stalls, bamboo mountain huts, toilets, jogging and bike tracks.
“The hope is that by developing this arboretum and integrated tourism area, we can create sustainable programs for the community by prioritizing conservation principles, so that the programs run by the community can be sustainable,” concluded Retno.
Fajar R. Budiman, chairman of the Pandu Cendekia Foundation, explained that a national durian contest was held in Sukabumi in early March 2019, with durians from Gandasoli taking first and second place.
This, said Fajar, shows that Gandasoli village has great potential for the development of a botanical garden and durian conservation.
Finally, the Village Head of Gandasoli, Saeban, explained that this program has significantly helped villagers earn additional income in addition to their daily work as farmers and field laborers. The villagers are very pleased with and benefit from the “Arboretum Durio Botanica” program, which is being implemented through a collaboration with the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia.
