Indonesia synergizes for conservation: PuSTARhut, BRIN Center for Applied Zoology, and PT Mitra Global Animalia in dialogue for collaboration at Animalium Indonesia | 26/04/2024

Through the collaboration of three institutions: Center for Standardization of Sustainable Forest Management Instruments (PuSTARhut), Center for Applied Zoology, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and PT Mitra Global Animalia (Animalium representative), Indonesia held an audience to strengthen cooperation and synergy in the field of applied zoology which was carried out at the Indonesian Natural Silk Laboratory (LSAI) in April 2024.

This hearing aimed to discuss the potential for collaboration between these institutions in animal research and development. Animalium, a BRIN research facility in the Soekarno BRIN Science and Technology Area, Cibinong, is known for its unique edutourism concept, combining education and tourism through live and replica animal exhibitions.

In the near future, we are optimistic about the potential collaboration between LSAI and Animalium in natural silkworm activities, particularly in procuring displays depicting the silkworm cycle. This collaborative effort will enable visitors to comprehensively understand the silkworm-rearing process, which is conducted periodically. We hope this initiative will further bolster our efforts to breed silkworms, a valuable state asset.

PuSTARhut has an important role in forest management in Indonesia, one of which is through LSAI, which focuses on activities in the field of sericulture as part of sustainable forest management. This laboratory supports improving the quality of theory and practice in sericulture. By its duties in standardizing and assessing the suitability of forest management instruments, LSAI carries out activities in the field of sericulture following applicable standards. This ensures that the sericulture activities carried out by LSAI contribute not only to the silk industry but also to forest and environmental sustainability.

In the agenda of the audience, the LSAI team allowed the BRIN Center for Applied Zoology and Animalium teams to tour and get to know various laboratory areas more closely, including small and large-scale silkworm rearing rooms, butterfly mating rooms, egg-laying rooms, spinning rooms, as well as a gallery showing the beauty of natural silk. It also briefly explains the flow of caterpillar maintenance from egg hatching to the butterfly mating process, along with post-harvest activities, namely cocoon processing.

With this audience, we envision a horizon of new opportunities for research and education in applied zoology. We anticipate that the collaboration between these institutions will not only be fruitful but also have a profound positive impact on animal conservation in Indonesia. Moreover, it will serve as a catalyst to increase public awareness about the crucial role we all play in preserving biodiversity.