Pekanbaru, April 23, 2026 – Today, a technical meeting was held in the Secretariat Room of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) UNRI Media Center to prepare for orchid planting. It was led by the Dean of FEB UNRI, Dr. Hj. Alvi Furwanti Alwie, S.E., M.M., and attended by representatives from the FEB UNRI Media Center and the FEB UNRI Nature Lovers Student Organization (Humendala). The main focus of the meeting was to discuss plans to plant various orchid species that will be part of the development of the Orchid Arboretum in the FEB UNRI Campus Forest.
Starting the meeting, Dr. Alvi Furwanti Alwie explained that the orchid planting is the first step in the Campus Forest development plan to enhance the forest's economic function and conservation, while also supporting FEB UNRI's CoE (CoE) program, which aims to strengthen the green economy and sustainability in wetland areas and create a more beautiful and environmentally valuable campus. "As part of our commitment to sustainability and nature conservation and of course increasing the economic value of the Campus Forest, the development of the arboretum by starting to plant orchids will enrich the diversity of flora on campus, as well as provide space for students and other academics to enjoy a beautiful campus and support a more comfortable learning space, as a small effort that we hope can have a big impact on environmental education and awareness of the importance of biodiversity," said Dr. Alvi.
The meeting then discussed the orchid species to be planted, including Dendrobium (Dendrobium spp.), Vanda (Vanda spp.), and Moon Orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis). These orchids were chosen for their beauty and ability to thrive in the tropical campus environment. The orchid planting also aims to introduce the diversity of flora and serve as a study center for students and researchers in the fields of conservation and ecology.
During the technical discussion, the meeting agreed on the steps necessary to attach the orchids to the prepared parent trees. This attachment technique is crucial to ensure optimal orchid growth in the natural environment of the FEB UNRI Campus Forest. To facilitate maintenance and accountability, the orchids will be divided into clusters of 30 geotagged trees. Initially, orchid attachment will be focused on 10 trees. Planning for orchid clusters is also being developed within the arboretum area. The orchid grafting activity is planned for the first week of May 2026, involving various elements, including FEB leadership, lecturers, educational staff, student organizations at the faculty and university levels, and partners who have supported the FEB Green Campus initiative.
As part of the preparation, the orchid seedlings used in this program were purchased from the Pekanbaru Tissue Culture Production Unit (@upkuljarpekanbaru), a plant tissue culture service center. As a supporting partner, the Pekanbaru Tissue Culture Production Unit will also participate in the orchid grafting activity in the FEB UNRI Campus Forest, ensuring the quality of the seedlings and the sustainability of the orchid plants to be planted.
In addition to orchid planting, the meeting also discussed efforts to develop the FEB UNRI Campus Forest, currently a secondary forest, into a primary forest richer in biodiversity. FEB UNRI has begun gradually planting endemic trees native to Riau, such as Keruing (Dipterocarpus spp.), Meranti (Shorea spp.), and Kulim (Scaphium macropodum) with partners, in the hope that the Campus Forest ecosystem will thrive and align with the growth of the orchids.
FEB UNRI remains committed to making the campus a center for innovative, sustainable, and economically valuable environmental education, while enriching biodiversity, particularly in Riau and Indonesia as a whole.
