Amid the rapid urban development of Depok City, a green space remains that holds a long history of Indonesia’s nature conservation efforts. The Pancoran Mas Nature Park, known as the oldest conservation area in Indonesia, stands as a witness to the history of environmental preservation efforts dating back to the time when the area was still designated as a nature reserve.
Awareness of the importance of preserving this ecological heritage became the reason behind a visit by the team from the Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI), to Pancoran Mas Nature Park on May 18, 2026. The visit, which involved 10 lecturers and researchers, marked an initial step in strengthening collaboration between the FMIPA UI Department of Biology and the Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) of Pancoran Mas Nature Park, while also opening opportunities for the area to be utilized as a living laboratory to support education, research, and community service.
This visit was coordinated by a lecturer from the Department of Biology, FMIPA UI, Dr. Mega Atria, M.Si., and was attended by the Head of the Department of Biology FMIPA UI, Windri Handayani, representatives of various research groups within the Department of Biology, staff from the UI Biota Collection Room, and researchers from RCCC UI. The series of activities began with a discussion with the site managers and was followed by a field survey to directly observe the ecosystem conditions within Pancoran Mas Nature Park.
According to Dr. Mega Atria, M.Si., collaboration between universities and conservation area managers is an important step in ensuring environmental sustainability in Depok City. As part of a higher education institution located in Depok, FMIPA UI views the preservation of Pancoran Mas Nature Park as a shared responsibility.
“As part of Depok City, FMIPA UI has a responsibility to support environmental conservation. Pancoran Mas Nature Park is a valuable asset with important historical and ecological significance that must be preserved together,” said Dr. Mega Atria, M.Si.
She added that Pancoran Mas Nature Park has great potential to support various activities under the university’s Tridharma mission (education, research, and community service).
“We see this area has great potential to support educational, research, and community service activities. Through this collaboration, we hope Pancoran Mas Nature Park can serve as a field learning space as well as a site for developing various biodiversity studies,” she said.
In the meeting, the Head of the Pancoran Mas Nature Park Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD), Lintang Yuniar Pratiwi, explained that the area, which is currently managed under the Environmental Agency of Depok City, is undergoing a process of restructuring and re-management. These efforts are aimed at restoring the ecological function of Pancoran Mas Nature Park through physical rehabilitation of the area and ecosystem restoration, which has been under various pressures over the years.
“As the oldest conservation area in Indonesia, Pancoran Mas Nature Park is currently undergoing a process of restructuring and re-management to restore its ecological function. These efforts not only include the physical rehabilitation of the area but also comprehensive ecosystem restoration,” said Lintang.
Despite facing various challenges, Pancoran Mas Nature Park still preserves important biodiversity richness. Various species of rattan, local fruit plants, as well as different species of birds, herpetofauna, and mammals can still be found in the area. This biodiversity potential serves as a key asset in ecosystem restoration efforts as well as in the development of conservation-based education and research activities.
Lintang welcomed the planned collaboration with the Department of Biology, FMIPA UI, and expressed hope that academic support would strengthen the various ongoing conservation programs being implemented.
“We greatly appreciate the involvement of the Department of Biology, FMIPA UI in the development plan for the Nature Park. Support from academics will be very helpful in biodiversity inventory, developing conservation strategies, and strengthening the educational function of the area,” she added.
More than just a visit, the meeting served as a platform for the academic community and conservation area managers to align their vision in developing the biodiversity potential of Pancoran Mas Nature Park. Both parties see this area as a field learning space that can introduce local biodiversity richness to future generations while also supporting the advancement of scientific knowledge.
Through the collaboration that is beginning to be initiated, FMIPA UI—particularly the Department of Biology—has the opportunity to contribute to biodiversity data collection, the development of conservation strategies, and the design of environmental education programs involving students and the wider community.
This collaboration is expected to strengthen conservation efforts at Pancoran Mas Nature Park while also providing benefits for education, research, and the wider community. In the midst of increasingly complex environmental challenges, synergy between educational institutions and conservation area managers is an important step in preserving the natural heritage of Depok City and Indonesia.
