I-CON 2025 “Whisper of the Forest: A Call to Protect Our Future”

Press Release I-CON 2025

“Whisper of the Forest: A Call to Protect Our Future”

Forestry Education Commission (FenC)

Author: Febiola Dini Rahmawati

Figure 1. Photo Session I-CON 2025

On Saturday, April 26th, 2025, the Forestry Education Commission of IFSA LC UGM hosted an international collaboration project via Google Meet. The project named IFSA Collaboration or I-CON 2025 with the theme "Whispers of the Forest: A Call to Protect Our Future” focused on the urgent need to listen to nature's subtle warnings and take collective action to preserve forests for the future generations. IFSA LC UGM invited three local committees to participate: IFSA LC ULM from South Kalimantan, Indonesia, IFSA Kyushu from Japan, and IFSA Pokhara from Nepal. The main objectives of I-CON 2025 are to enhance knowledge and critical thinking about land use change issues at both national and international levels, strengthen relationships between local committees, and promote cultural understanding between different countries and regions.

The event was held at 13.00—15.30 UTC+7. The master of ceremony (MC) guided the event from the opening until the closing session. I-CON 2025 was divided into five sessions: the opening session, introduction, FGD session, presentation, and culture vaganza. The opening session was filled with an open gate, opening by the MC, and a brief speech from Febiola Dini Rahmawati as the project officer. The next session was an introduction for 20 minutes, which included a 5-minute brief introduction from each local committee. The third session was a focus group discussion session for 30 minutes, the participants were divided into 5 breakout rooms with different topics discussed in each room, which included illegal logging, natural disaster like forest fire, land use change for interoceanic highway, land use change for palm tree in Indonesia, and social forestry. A breakout room was facilitated by a moderator who will guide the discussion and a notulen who will take notes on the discussion. 

After the FGD session ended, the next session was a presentation session about the discussion results.  The presentation was presented by a representative from each breakout room in the main room by delivering the notulence’s note. The presentation lasted for 25 minutes. The cultural diversity of the participating groups was emphasized in the Culture Vaganza session, which featured 5-minute videos from each LC and followed by Q&A session. The event wrapped up with the final session, during which the MC revealed the best costume entries, the most active participants, and handed out prizes, concluding with closing remarks.

I-CON 2025 was a successful event with more participants than expected. It offered insights into cultural diversity and land use changes globally. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making I-CON 2025 a success, without you the event would be meaningless. We welcome your feedback to enhance future FenC programs. Thank you for joining I-CON 2025!