The International Day for Biodiversity 2026 was held at the Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) on Thursday, May 22, under the theme “Acting Locally, for Global Impact.” This major event was attended by the Minister of Environment, Jumhur Hidayat, ambassadors from neighboring countries, and the heads of international environmental organizations. 

At this event, Rector of UIII, Prof. Jamhari, gave a keynote speech highlighting the university’s growing role as a model green campus and its academic contributions to environmental sustainability.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Jamhari expressed gratitude for hosting this event and was glad that UIII continues to carry out environmental conservation through planting and environmental studies. He also acknowledged the regional government’s ongoing support in helping UIII become one of Indonesia’s leading green campuses, such as the Depok City Government, the Ministry of Environment, and other Indonesian institutions.

“We are grateful to be the host of this event. The UIII campus is a model institution — one that truly cares about the environment. We are also thankful for the support of the regional government, which has always backed UIII in its mission to become a green campus in Indonesia,” he said.

Prof. Jamhari also highlighted that UIII has two dedicated academic programs focused on environmental issues, namely the Master of Public Policy (MPP) at the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Master of Finance on Sustainable Finance at the Faculty of Economics and Business. Both programs are designed to equip future leaders with the knowledge and tools needed to address today’s most pressing environmental and economic challenges.

Illustrating the depth of research at UIII, Prof. Jamhari shared that just two weeks ago, a PhD student, Nanda Silatsa Serge, successfully defended his dissertation on tropical rainforests in Brazil, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

The research examined how tropical forests can be preserved sustainably, and how environmental justice can be achieved for both individual nations and the global community. The student proposed a comprehensive framework balancing forest conservation with investment sustainability, development, and climate goals.

The quality of his work did not go unnoticed internationally; the student had already received a job offer in Germany before completing their degree. Prof. Jamhari cited this as a powerful example of how environmental concern and rigorous scholarship go hand in hand at UIII. “This is an open campus. Even though it carries an Islamic identity, we do not look at religious or national background. Everyone is welcome to study here,” he said.

Prof. Jamhari closed with a call to intergenerational responsibility. He reminded attendees that the forests we enjoy today were planted and nurtured by those who came before us — and that it is now our collective duty to protect and preserve them for generations to come.

“The environment is our shared responsibility,” he said. “Our parents’ generation planted and cared for the forests. Now it is our time to care for the forests — for all of us.”