The Department of Aquatic Resource Management (MSP), Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPIK) at IPB University is providing students with training as part of the Freedom of Learning – Independence Campus (MBKM-T) program, with a focus on the theme ‘Blue Carbon.’ The MSP Department at IPB University has invited several experts (lecturers, researchers, and practitioners) in the field of blue carbon from various institutions and universities, both domestic and international.

The Chairman of the MSP Department of IPB University, Prof Hefni Effendi, reported that this lecture series took place over two weeks from August 28^th – September 7^th , 2023, in the Senate Discussion Room at the IPB Dramaga Campus. The event was attended by 83 students from the 7^th semester of the MSP Program at IPB University.

“This activity is supported by funding obtained by the MSP Department at IPB University through the Merdeka Campus Competition Program (PKKM) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) for the year 2023,” he said.

The MBKM-T Blue Carbon program aims to provide students with empirical field experience (both hard and soft skills) to enhance competencies needed for the business and industrial world (DUDI), government agencies, or the community. The MBKM activities are conducted in four locations, namely Pramuka Island, Tidung Island, Pari Island, and the coastal area of Brebes, involving partners from the Kepulauan Seribu National Park, the Food Security, Marine Affairs, and Agriculture Agency (DKPKP) of the DKI Jakarta Province, and the Coastal Mangrove Observer Community of Sari Brebes.

“During the MBKM program, students will work on independent projects related to blue carbon and intern according to the partner’s field for three months (Sep-Dec 2023). MBKM-T Blue Carbon is also aligned with the mission of managing coastal and marine ecosystems, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 14: Life Below Water, which aims to conserve and sustainably utilize marine resources for sustainable development,” said Prof Hefni.

Dr Rahmat Kurnia, the MBKM-T Blue Carbon program’s design team, stated that the public lectures were conducted before the students’ departure to the MBKM locations to enhance students’ competencies in blue carbon concepts, methodology, digitization, and managerial skills.

Guest lecturers, researchers, and practitioners for the MBKM-T Blue Carbon public lectures included Dr Wan Mohd Rauhan Wan Hussin (Universiti Malaysia Terengganu), Prof Rudianto (Universitas Brawijaya), Dr I Wayan Susi Dharmawan (Ecology and Ethnobiology Research Center, National Research and Innovation Agency/BRIN), Dr Novi Susetyo Adi (Directorate General of Marine Spatial Management, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries/KKP), Dr Udhi Eko Hermawan and Dr Nurul Dhewani Mirah Sjafrie (Oceanography Research Center/PRO, BRIN), as well as Muhammad Ridwan SHut, MSi, and Dr Arsyad Al Amin (Coastal and Marine Resource Study Center, IPB University).

Furthermore, Dr Ayu Ervina, the Chairperson of PKKM at MSP IPB University, explained that the topics covered in the public lectures included Blue Carbon: Concept and Measurement, Carbon Capture and Sequestration; Mangrove Soil Carbon Calculation; Carbon Reserve Estimation in Seabed Ecosystems; Mangrove Ecosystems and Blue Carbon in the Implementation of Carbon Economic Value Policy, Operationalizing Model of the Blue Carbon Concept for Sustainable Coastal – Marine Ecosystem Service Management; Blue Carbon: Exploring Prospects and Challenges – Experiences of Malaysia; Strategies for Blue Carbon Management in Strengthening Coastal and Marine Resilience in Indonesia. (*/Rz) (IAAS/DSR)

Sources: IPB News