Preserving nature’s harmony, sustaining our home on Earth, and protecting biodiversity to enrich human life on land.

Events About Sustainable Use of Land

Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) promotes forest conservation and sustainable resource use through: (1) Summer Course: Educates international students on forest management and conservation. (2) Collaborations: Partners with local and global institutions for research and environmental programs. (3) Community Outreach: Raises awareness on conservation among local communities. (4) Restoration Projects: Focuses on land rehabilitation and forest restoration with community involvement. USU combines education, research, and community engagement for environmental sustainability.

Sustainably Farmed Food on Campus

USU has taken the initiative with PT. Charoen Pokphand to provide sustainable food supplies on campus, such as poultry farming and other agricultural products.

Maintain and Extend Current Ecosystems’ biodiversity

Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) focuses on environmental conservation, particularly protecting ecosystems for both plant and animal life. This commitment is evident in their efforts to conserve mangrove ecosystems and orangutan habitats: (1) Mangrove Conservation: USU is involved in efforts to protect and restore mangrove forests, which are crucial for coastal ecosystems, biodiversity, and climate regulation. (2) Orangutan Habitat Protection: USU actively works to conserve the habitats of orangutans, an endangered species in Sumatra, through research, conservation programs, and community engagement.These initiatives demonstrate USU’s dedication to preserving critical ecosystems and biodiversity.

Educational Programmes on Ecosystems

USU organizes various activities to educate both local and national communities about ecosystems. One example is the student organization Seabolga, which focuses on educating the people of Sibolga about aquatic ecosystems. Another example is Satu Sumpah Dedikasi (SASUDE), which aims to provide environmental education to the people of Sungai Deli. also on USU people from outside of USU can learn about animal.

Sustainable Management of Land for Agriculture (Educational Outreach) (N)

USU offers educational programs on land management for agriculture. One of the active professors involved in this initiative is Professor Dr. Ir. Abdul Rauf, MP, a faculty member of the USU Faculty of Agriculture, who is an expert in land management and conservation.

Sustainable management of Land for Tourism (Educational Outreach) (N)

USU, through its Community Service Program (PKM), has carried out activities aimed at boosting tourism in Sileme-leme, Parsingguran II Village. The activities were carried out by the USU's Village Development Team, which focused on improving infrastructure, developing human resources, and promoting the local arts and culture of the area. also in Mandailing Natal 2 of USU also collaborate with 2 of USU's partner to teach local's about the usage of pesticide for ecotourism

Sustainable Use, Conservation and Restoration of Land (Policy)

Monitoring IUCN and Other Conservation Species (Policies)

USU has implemented a policy for the conservation of protected fauna (IUCN Red Listed species) by collaborating with various parties. This includes the establishment of a captive breeding program for the Axis deer (Axis axis) at Universitas Sumatera Utara. In addition, USU also partners with conservation organizations in the Leuser and Bukit Lawang regions for the conservation of rhinos, elephants, and orangutans.

Local Biodiversity Included in Planning and Development

Rector of Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), Prof. Dr. Muryanto Amin, officially opened Akasia Park and Al Muslimun Park at the FMIPA USU campus, reinforcing the university's commitment to environmental sustainability. The parks, located between the Al Muslimun Mosque and the Physics Study Program, feature pedestrian pathways and green spaces designed to enhance campus comfort and foster interaction among students and faculty. Through these initiatives, USU demonstrates how universities can integrate local biodiversity and sustainable practices into their development plans, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improving campus life.

Alien Species Impact Reduction (Policies)

USU, in collaboration with the quarantine agency of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, has successfully minimized the impact of invasive species on the Universitas Sumatera Utara campus. This partnership aims to protect local ecosystems by preventing the introduction and spread of foreign species that could disrupt biodiversity, ensuring a healthier and more sustainable environment for both the campus and surrounding areas.

Collaboration for Shared Land Ecosystems

USU, through its Community Service Program (PKM), has carried out several activities in collaboration with local communities to protect the ecosystem. Some examples include the PKM project led by the PUI Mangrove in Perlis Village, assisting the community in preserving mangroves in Hamparan Perak, Serdang Bedagai, and conducting coastal reforestation in Paluh Village.

Water Discharge Guidelines and Standards

USU employs advanced machinery to manage wastewater disposal, ensuring that the water quality on campus meets high standards. This initiative helps protect local ecosystems, safeguard wildlife, and promote the health and well-being of both the university community and surrounding areas. By effectively treating and managing wastewater, USU contributes to environmental sustainability and public health.

Policy on Plastic Waste Reduction

Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), through Rector's Decree No. 3 of 2019 and Circular Letter No. 1 of 2023 on the Green Campus policy, has taken steps to reduce plastic waste on campus. These efforts include: (1) Promoting waste reduction: Implementing initiatives to minimize plastic use and encourage sustainable practices among students and staff. (2) Waste management systems: Introducing systems to recycle and manage plastic waste effectively. This policy reflects USU's commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

Policy on Hazardous Waste Disposal

Waste management is a serious concern at Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), given the waste generated from activities like paper use, plastic bottles, and campus facilities. Under Rector's Regulation No. 3 of 2019 and Circular Letter No. 1 of 2023, USU enforces strict control over hazardous waste and has developed infrastructure for managing organic, inorganic, and medical waste. USU also conducts training on waste management, such as eco-enzyme production, and raises awareness within the academic community to promote sustainable practices.

Promoting Land Conservation through Supportive Events

USU is commited in supporting conservation program by doing: (a) Conferences, (b) Public Lectures, (c) Workshops and others. Where topics related to deforestation and certification in the palm oil industry are discussed. USU organized those activities in collaboration with various partners from local and international

Policies for Ensuring Sustainable Farming of Campus Food

In 2022, USU support the food sustainibility by constructing the infrastructure such as in Langkat and Kwala Bekala this commitment is stated on USU Long Term Planning 2015 - 2039. On 2022, USU also collaborated with PT Charoen Pokphand Indonesia Tbk in order to build a teaching farm in the form of closed hencoop at faculty of Agriculture.

Preserving and Expanding Ecosystems and Biodiversity

USU had been maintained ecosystem with the purpose of supporting flora and fauna conservation program, in front of Rectorate Building USU kept Sambars Deer, and various type of birds, USU also has abundant of flora on Faculty of Forestry in Kwala Bekala.USU also been recognized by Center of Excelence (PUI) for their Eucalyptus and Mangrove, it can be seen by Decree of the Director General of Higher Education, Research and Technology number: 0753/E5/AL.04/2022 dated 12 August 2022, USU through MBKM program also let students to do internship at Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari to improve their knowledge about ecosystem.

Educational Programs on Ecosystems

USU has offer programs and faculties that related to ecosystem, there are Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, and Faculty of Engineering locationed at main campus, and Faculty of Forestry on Kwala Bekala campus. they offer study related to ecosystem.

Educational Outreach for Sustainable Land Management in Agriculture and Tourism

USU has two programs for educational program/ Outreach there are free prgoram and paid program, for the free program USU has allocated funds for community service activities for lecturers, and for the paid program is engagement program for students to developing skills and knowledge about ecotourism, organic farming, conservation ecology, environmental ethics and other courses.

Policy for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Terrestrial Ecosystems

USU has concerd about the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terresterial ecosystem, there are a lot of efforts USU did such as the development of Kwala Bekala campus area, USU's Tambunan facilities, USU also allocated funds in order to support research about conservation, restoration, and ecosystem. also in order to support the implementation of Tri Dharma of Higher Education in Environmental and FOrestry Management, on 2022 USU signed MoU with Ministry of Environmental and Forestry. USU has many policy to support conservation (1) on 2016, USU has collaborated with various parties to support the conservation such as BBTNGL (Gunung Leuser National Park), (2) 2019 USU developed collaboration network with Sustainable Ecosystem Foundation, (3) on 2022 with Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

Policy for Protecting IUCN Red Listed Species in Operation-Affected Areas

There are no policies that specifically regulate the identification, monitoring and protection of species on the IUCN Red List and the national conservation list of species. This is because so far, there is no IUCN Red List species or a national species conservation list in the USU campus area. However, USU continues to support conservation activities, through the implementation of the Summer Course "Inclusive and Sustainable Palm Oil Industry" where all participants are invited to undertake field trip activities to Bukit Lawang as an orangutan conservation area and to Tangkahan as an elephant conservation area. USU does not yet have a specific policy that regulates to identify, monitor and protect any IUCN Red Listed species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by the operation of USU. USU has a Research Master Plan in the form of a 2016-2020 research master plan to accommodate studies on the identification, monitoring and protection of IUCN Red List and national conservation species lists, the Research Master Plan was revised in 2021 and used for 2021–2025.

Integration of Local Biodiversity in Planning and Development

USU's effort about local biodiversity can be seen by many collaboration USU does with Gabungan Pengusaha Kelapa Sawit/GAPKI to build Etalase Sawit (Palm Oil Display Case) and the existance of study on the field of local biodiversity.

Policy to Reduce The Impact of Alien Species

USU's have not made regulations/ policy about reducing the impact of alien species. but USU will consult with experts from Faculty of Forestry and Faculty of Agriculture in regarding species on USU's campus area.

Collaboration with The Local Community

USU's has been collaborated with various community service activities through LPPM USU in order to maintain shared land ecosystem, and USU created Thematic Real Work Lecture (KKN) activities to deepen their skill and knowledge about environment and maintain land ecosystem.

Water Quality Standards and Guidelines for Discharges

Through Green Campus Movement on 2019, USU has built many infrastructures to transform USU to be a Green Campus, on 2022 USU initiated to build retarding basin to anticipate flood, also USU has implemented sensor-based faucets and urinal flushing system with predominated dose as one of water-saving equipment in the new building.

Policy on Reducing Plastic Waste

On the Green Campus Movement regulation article 7 point 6, USU suggest to not use the package made from plastic/plastic bags on USU environment, USU's Faculty of Forestry also build Integrated Research Laboratory for researching plastic waste management, this activity not only carried out on USU but also on wider community. The Green Campus Movement on USU is issued on 2019 through regulation number 2019. On 2021 the University Trustee Board Regulation No 3 Year 2021 is made, this regulation is made for supporting the Green Campus Movement.

Sustainable Hazardous Waste Disposal Policy

Policy about maintaining environment on USU is arranged by Green Campus Movement regulations since 2019. including the disposal of waste and hazardous material. The Green Campus Movement on USU is established on 2019 through regulation number 3 of 2019. On 2021 the University Trustee Board Regulation No 3 Year 2021 is made, this regulation is made for supporting the Green Campus Movement.

USU is committed to supporting conservation programs and sustainable land use, including forests and wild land. This can be seen in the programs and activities carried out. In 2021, USU carried out 45 activities that can be classified into several groups, namely: (a) Conferences, (b) General Lectures, (c) Focus Group Discussions (FGD), (d) Community Services, and (e) Competition at local, national, and international levels. As an initiative to change the behaviour and awareness of young people towards the concept of sustainability from an early age, in 2021, USU held a joint online workshop with students from 18 universities from 7 countries participating. The topics discussed were deforestation and certification in the sustainable palm oil supply chain.ment, max length 1000 character

USU has an ex-situ conservation area in front of the Central Administration Bureau office yard. In this ex-situ, there are Sambars Deer (Cervus unicolor) and various types of birds and geese. USU also have an arboretum with a diverse collection of flora. USU plays a direct role in the Sumatran Orangutan and the Tapanuli Orangutan Conservation Program. In 2021, USU, through the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, signed the partnership agreement with the Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari and agreed to cooperate in the conservation programs in the context of Program Merdeka Belajar – Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) activities. USU is also collaborating with YOSL-OIC (Yayasan Orangutan Sumatera Lestari-Orangutan Information Centre) to increase student awareness and knowledge of biodiversity conservation. In 2021, USU also established the Center for Excellence in Eucalyptus Innovation which aims to conduct research on the development and utilization of Eucalyptus.

USU has been seen concerned to sustainable food since 2015 through the USU Long Term Planning 2015 – 2039. In the USU Long-Term Work Plan 2015-2039 , in the 5th work program, it is stated that to prepare a competitive learning system, USU will effectively utilize experimental gardens in the Tambunan A Langkat Area and Bekala Baru Campus, Educational Forests in Karo Highland, and also the Animal Farm as a show house and natural laboratory for intensive and continuous learning and research. The Tambunan A Plantation in Langkat Regency, North Sumatra, has an area of ​​600 hectares that can be used as a plantation business area and an area of ​​1,000 hectares that can be used as an educational forest. Beside that, USU is also facilitated with the experimental gardens in the campus area. This is in line with the USU Strategic Plan 2020–2024 where USU will focus on the construction and development of the Tambunan Experimental Garden Area. There are several programs conducted to disseminating information related to the development of food security, such as the International Conference on Agriculture, Environment, and Food Security (AEFS) which has been regularly held every year since 2017, and also community service programs. USU also established the Tuber Study Center, a forum for lecturers to conduct research and development on the utilization of tubers, especially tubers specific to North Sumatra as a sustainable food source.

Free: USU has regular programs for community service managed by LPPM-USU (Community Service Institution of USU). They can join and follow this program freely as the USU's partner. In 2021, USU allocated a fund amount of IDR1,979,950,000 to support community education programs on sustainable land management for agriculture and tourism. Paid: USU have a Subject of Agroforestry in the Faculty of Agriculture and Faculty of Forestry as well as an Ethnomusicology Study Program in the Faculty of Culture Studies, Those programs offer students a community engagement program as well as student outreach for developing ecotourism and organic farming.

University of Sumatera Utara has positioned its reputation as the university with the strong fundamental of research in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem. USU has faculties that offer major programs related to ecosystems, such as the Faculty of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, and also the Graduate School of the Natural Resources Management Study Program. The faculty of Forestry has four departments, namely: (i) Forest Management, (ii) Forest Products Technology, (iii) Silviculture, and (iv)Forest Resource Conservation, while the Faculty of agriculture has several related study programs such as agro-ecotechnology, animal husbandry, and management of aquatic resources.

USU has Tambunan A Langkat and the new Bekala campus area, the educational forest in Tanah Karo, and the animal farm as a show house and natural laboratory for learning and research. These three locations are used as facilities for the development of conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. This program is also carried out through research activities, where in 2021, USU allocated funds amounting to IDR1,714,460,000 to support research activities related to conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. In 2021, USU through Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences signed an MoU with the Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari for the development of conservation and restoration programs in the MBKM forum.

In the process of planning and developing a new campus, USU has shown a high level of commitment and concern for local biodiversity issues. This is indicated by the existence of a study to take into account local biodiversity through the allocation of an arboretum area of ​​53 hectares in the process of constructing the new Faculty of Forestry building on the Kwala Bekala Campus.

USU has several experimental gardens located in Kebun Tambunan A, Langkat Regency, the new Kwala Bekala campus area, an educational forest in Tanah Karo, and a farm as a show house and natural laboratory for learning and research. There are no policies that specifically regulate the identification, monitoring and protection of species on the IUCN Red List and the national conservation list of species. This is because so far, there is no IUCN Red List species or a national species conservation list in the USU campus area. Although not located in an area affected by USU's operations, USU has several researchers/lecturers/experts at the Faculty of Forestry who have done a lot of research related to IUCN Red list species such as elephants and tigers. The Graduate School of University of Sumatera Utara also collaborates with the Yayasan Gajah Sumatra in conducting joint research, seminars, and learning related to conservation.

USU is consistent in supporting efforts to maintain terrestrial ecosystems through various community service activities. USU through community service activities managed by Community Service Institution (LPPM) collaborates with the local community, e.g. through partnerships, in efforts to maintain shared land ecosystems. One of its activities is to provide assistance to the assisted villages.

Regulations that specifically regulate the reduction of the impact of species on campus have not been made. Nevertheless, experts, especially with lecturers from the Biology Study Program, Faculty of Forestry and Faculty of Agriculture, were involved in the planning and development consultation process on the USU campus, particularly with regard to species. For example, when choosing species to be developed in the campus area to anticipate the impact of foreign species in the campus area.

The commitment of the University of Sumatera Utara regarding the Implementation of the Green Campus Movement in the University of North Sumatra has been realized with the issuance of Rector's Regulation Number 3 of 2019, where Article 4 Number 1 states that one of the principles that must be achieved in the ecological design component of the environment is the availability of water resource management and waste management. USU has implemented water-saving equipment in new buildings and renovated buildings, and has used sensors based on water-saving devices and automatic watering devices for water use management at the Padang Bulan Campus as a form of implementation of the policy. The Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy also followed up on this policy by implementing a urinal flushing system with a mechanical principle in the men's toilet at the USU Faculty of Pharmacy, where the water to be used will be in accordance with the predetermined dose. USU has also established a center for SGDs. The SDGs Center is a forum that coordinates the overall implementation of activities in the USU area to then contribute to the achievement of SDGs goals including water quality management.

USU is very concerned about the waste problem. This is indicated by the issuance of Rector's Regulation No. 3 of 2019 concerning the Implementation of the Green Campus Movement at the University of North Sumatra, especially in Article 7 Paragraph 8 which states that USU is strictly to control the hazardous waste in the university area of USU with the standard of regulation. This policy is implemented by multiple initiatives and supporting facilities. One of the USU property to support the waste management is a a Temporary Landfill located at USU Gate 4. As a TPS, a temporary waste collection site, It is facilitated with 4 unit of compost bins. The compost bins will proceed organic waste from yards, parks, household waste in campus complexes, lecture living house, canteens, etc. The proceed waste is a compost to fertilize plants in USU's gardens. For supporting waste management in mobility aspect, USU provides garbage carts and L 300 trucks as the transport vehicle. Another Compost Center is located at the Faculty of Agriculture. This facility is built from the aid of Japanese government since 2009 and used for educational and research laboratory. In addition, USU has also established a USU SDGs center which is a forum for carrying out multidisciplinary research related to SDGs at global, national and local levels, including waste management.

The implementation of the Green Campus Movement at the University of North Sumatra has been regulated in the USU Rector's Regulation Number 3 of 2019 which consists of 4 chapters and 8 articles. Consumption of bottled drinking water made of single-use plastic and/or plastic bags in the USU environment should not be used, as well as the use of glasses in drinking containers at meetings to reduce the use of water in plastic containers. This is in accordance with Article 7 point 6 of the said Rector's Regulation. Meanwhile, other green movements to save paper, such as the use of back and forth paper, saving tissue paper, as well as regulations related to sorting waste and B3 waste to facilitate the process of transporting and managing waste, have been regulated as Article 7 point 7 which explains the implementation steps. Each faculty and unit at USU makes policies regarding green campuses in their respective work units, such as at the USU Laboratory UPT, where there is a circular from the head of the laboratory to introduce green habits in the implementation of laboratory activities. USU facilitates dispenser (refillable drinking water) in every working room for lecturers and administrative staff, so there is no need to buy bottled drinks.