The ‘Kedaireka Matching Fund for Native Plants’ team from the Faculty of Biology UGM, led by Prof. Dr. Endang Semiarti, M.S., M.Sc., conducted a visit to East Kalimantan, specifically to Woody Park Borneo, alongside Director Drs. Lalu Fauzul Idhi, from December 7th to 9th, 2023, for the purpose of conserving indigenous plants. This collaboration primarily focuses on the cultivation development of the black orchid (Coelogyne pandurata), Ulin wood (Eusideroxylon zwageri), and pitcher plants (Nephentes spp.). The team engaged in discussions related to orchid conservation, particularly the endemic orchids of Kalimantan, which are set to be carried out in the Woody Park Borneo’s greenhouse. This aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 15 and 17, namely Land Ecosystems and Partnerships to Achieve Goals. Additionally, the Kedaireka team handed over 10 bottles of black orchid seedlings (C. pandurata), each containing 30 seedlings ready for acclimatization. They also received Ulin wood seedlings intended for planting in the Karanggayam greenhouse at the Faculty of Biology UGM.
In addition, the team also held discussions with Mr. Hari Purwito, the owner of Zwageri Orchid Garden, and his farming team regarding efforts to develop cultivation and conservation of pitcher plants and black orchids. They also visited the Orchid House located in the Balikpapan Botanical Garden, East Kalimantan.The strong and continuous collaboration between the Kedaireka for Native Plants Team UGM, Woody Park Borneo as an industry entity, and Zwageri Orchid Garden as local farmers/community, aimed at developing the breeding of local plants, holds significant potential in supporting the conservation of East Kalimantan’s native flora in their natural habitats.