Press Release Workshop #2 “GIS Get-Go: Implementation in Wildlife Conservation”

Author: Aliyya Husna Rochimah

Figure 1. Documentation of the participants' practical session guided by the speaker

The second edition of the Workshop held by the Human Resource Development Commission (HRD) from IFSA LC UGM is an event where participants can enhance their soft skills, especially in the field of forestry. This year, Workshop #2 brought the theme “GIS Get-Go: Implementation in Wildlife Conservation” held at 15th November 2023.

In order to support the conservation efforts of wildlife, a comprehensive and innovative approach is required in the analysis and monitoring of wildlife habitats. The implementation of a Geographic Information System (GIS) has proven to be a highly effective tool in evaluating habitat suitability and designing more efficient conservation strategies. Wildlife often have specific habitat requirements and are frequently dependent on particular environmental conditions for their survival. Therefore, a wise understanding of habitat suitability is crucial for planning targeted conservation actions. GIS provides a strong framework for analyzing and visualizing geographical data, enabling researchers and conservationists to identify critical areas that require special attention. Workshop #2 aims to offer participants a great understanding and practical experience concerning GIS in mapping and analyzing wildlife habitat conditions for conservation purposes.

Figure 2. Documentations of Speech Session from (1) Aliyya Husna as PO of Workshop #2, (2) Faiha Azka Azzahira as the president of IFSA LC UGM, and (3) Saddam Maulana as the chair of KS Spasial

Workshop #2 took place at the Faculty of Forestry Universitas Gadjah Mada, by presenting our fabulous speaker, Dr. Nurpana Sulaksono, S.Hut., M.T., who serves as the Ad Interim Head at Taman Nasional Gunung Merbabu. The event is hosted by Maria Evani our Master of Ceremony. The event is divided into two main sessions, consisting of a presentation session and a practical session. At first, the event started at 9:00 AM with the opening by the Master of Ceremony, followed by speeches from Aliyya Husna as PO of Workshop #2, Faiha Azka Azzahira as the president of IFSA LC UGM, and Saddam Maulana as the chair of KS Spasial. Afterwards, the speaker took over to initiate the presentation session, which also served as a platform for discussion regarding the methodology of data acquisition with camera traps, spatial multi-criteria analysis for deciding the habitat characteristics for specific species, and the analysis of habitat conditions. Following that, an ice-breaking session was conducted to provide a break for the participants. The ice-breaking session was filled with a fun game of guessing animal puzzle pieces, bringing joy to everyone involved, especially for Mr. Afriza and Mrs. Nining as the winners. The event was then handed back to the speaker for the training session on creating wildlife habitat suitability maps. In this session, participants were also given the opportunity to show their practical results and explain it to the entire room. One of the participants chosen for this was Mr. Amran. The event ended with the announcement of the most active participants, appreciation for the speaker, and a group photo session.

Figure 3. Documentation of the presentation session of the participant’s practical result

Figure 4. Documentation of all Workshop #2 participants and committee members with the speakers

Workshop #2 “GIS Get-Go: Implementation in Wildlife Conservation” has been successfully conducted. Participants actively contributed to every session, including discussions, ice-breaking activities, and presentations of practical results. We hope this event has a positive impact and that the knowledge gained will be beneficial for the future. Your critiques and suggestions are highly appreciated as valuable feedback for the upcoming events organized by the HRD Commission of IFSA LC UGM. Thank you for your participation in Workshop #2, and we look forward to seeing you at the next opportunity.