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INA
Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Udayana Holds FGD on Local Balinese Orchid Development to Strengthen Conservation and Community Welfare
Denpasar, 8 September 2026 — The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Udayana, organized a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) entitled “Adaptation and Development of Local Balinese Orchid Genetic Resources” with the theme “Orchids for Conservation and Welfare: Synergy between Universities, Communities, and Sustainable Industries” at the Postgraduate Hall of Universitas Udayana on Tuesday (8/9/2026). The activity served as a strategic step to strengthen conservation efforts for local Balinese orchids through collaboration among universities, government institutions, conservation organizations, local communities, and industries.
The event was attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Udayana, I Putu Sudiarta, S.P., M.Si., Ph.D., the Head of the Bali Provincial Agriculture and Food Security Agency, Dr. I Wayan Sunada, S.P., M.Agb., the Chairperson of the Bali Provincial Branch of the Indonesian Orchid Association (PAI), Mrs. Putri Suastini Koster, representatives from the Bali Tourism Office, Bali Economic Affairs Office, Bali Research and Innovation Agency (BRIDA), the Institute for Research and Community Service (LP2M), the Bali Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), the Bali Environment and Forestry Agency (DKLH), representatives from the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Desa Pancasari, and various other stakeholders.
In his opening remarks, the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Udayana, I Putu Sudiarta, S.P., M.Si., Ph.D., stated that the development of local Balinese orchid genetic resources represents the Faculty’s commitment to preserving Bali’s biodiversity through research, conservation, and community empowerment approaches. This program is not only focused on orchid preservation but is also designed to generate tangible benefits for communities through innovation development and sustainable economic opportunities.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Bali Provincial Branch of the Indonesian Orchid Association (PAI), Mrs. Putri Suastini Koster, expressed her support for the conservation of local Balinese orchids and officially opened the FGD. She emphasized that collaboration among various stakeholders is essential to ensure that Balinese orchids remain protected as part of Bali’s natural and cultural identity.
During the main FGD session, the Coordinator of the Local Balinese Orchid Genetic Resources Adaptation and Development Program, I Putu Sudiarta, S.P., M.Sc., Ph.D., presented the program development plan, which includes exploration, characterization, and conservation of wild Balinese orchids; development of orchid propagation technologies; and the establishment of the Orchid Tourism Village at Dusun Dasong, Pancasari Village, Sukasada District, Buleleng Regency.
The program is designed as a sustainable initiative that will be implemented from 2026 to 2030. The initial phase focuses on orchid exploration, development of databases and distribution maps, strengthening community institutions, conservation based on local wisdom, development of *in vitro* culture techniques, and preparation of conservation-based tourism packages.
In her presentation, Aninda Retno Utami Wibowo, M.Sc. from the Center for Biosystematics and Evolution Research, BRIN, highlighted that Bali has the potential to host approximately 230 orchid species that require further documentation and taxonomic studies. Exploration, species identification, habitat documentation, and location recording are essential steps to support the conservation of local Balinese orchids.
BRIN also emphasized the importance of scientific documentation through recording plant characteristics, GPS-based locations, habitat photographs, and specimen data management to ensure that information regarding Balinese orchid diversity is systematically preserved.
The local Balinese orchid conservation program integrates scientific approaches with Balinese cultural values through the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana, which emphasizes the balance between humans, nature, and spirituality. One of the local approaches discussed was the use of saput/kain poleng as a symbol of balance and harmony in supporting orchid habitat protection.
Beyond conservation in natural habitats, the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Udayana, is also developing orchid propagation technologies through tissue culture, selfing, crossing, and somatic embryogenesis. These technologies are expected to support the conservation of endangered orchid species while providing sustainable planting materials for cultivation development.
Representatives from the Bali Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA Bali) emphasized the importance of responsible management of wild genetic resources in accordance with conservation regulations. Access to genetic resources for research purposes must follow proper procedures, including registration, permits, and documentation.
BKSDA Bali also supports biodiversity inventory and exploration activities in conservation areas, including the Lake Buyan–Lake Tamblingan Nature Tourism Area, as part of efforts to develop biodiversity-based conservation and tourism.
In the tourism development session, Dr. I Putu Sudana, A.Par., M.Par., presented the concept of a community-based Orchid Tourism Village as a form of conservation and environmental education commercialization. The tourism development model positions orchids as a main attraction that provides visitors with experiences through the concepts of “Something to See, Something to Do, Something to Buy, Something to Learn, and Something to Share.”
This concept places local communities as key actors through the involvement of village governments, village-owned enterprises (BUMDes), tourism awareness groups, farmer groups, orchid communities, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and younger generations in building a conservation-based tourism ecosystem.
Through this FGD, all participants agreed that conserving local Balinese orchids requires long-term commitment and collaboration. Several important recommendations were generated, including the need for comprehensive documentation of approximately 250 orchid species, strengthening conservation based on local culture, developing research-based propagation methods, and producing downstream products that provide economic benefits for the community of Dusun Dasong.
The Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Udayana, is committed to establishing the local Balinese orchid genetic resources development program as a model of collaboration integrating conservation, research, education, tourism, and community empowerment.
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