Prof. Endah Sulistyawati, born in Malang in 1969, embarked on her academic journey by earning a Bachelor's degree in Biology from ITB in 1993. She further pursued her doctoral education in ecology at the Australian National University, successfully completing her studies in 2002. With 27 years of dedicated service, Prof. Endah was appointed as an ITB Professor on November 1, 2022, following an illustrious career.

Throughout her remarkable journey, characterized by a passion for travel and mountain climbing, Prof. Endah has authored 64 papers in national and international journals and proceedings. Her contributions have earned her numerous awards, including the prestigious Satyalancana Karya Satya award from the President of Indonesia.

In her oration, Prof. Endah underscored the pivotal role of tropical rainforests in providing essential ecosystem services crucial for human well-being. However, rampant deforestation at both national and global levels poses a threat to these invaluable services. Prof. Endah emphasized the necessity of curative measures, particularly large-scale forest restoration, to rectify ecological imbalances resulting from deforestation.

She highlighted the anticipated outcomes of forest restoration, emphasizing the restoration of ecosystems characterized by a diverse array of species representative of the reference ecosystem. According to Prof. Endah, successful restoration should strive to include as many native species components as practically possible.

Deforestation, viewed through an ecological lens, is considered a disturbance leading to an imbalance in the ecosystem. This disturbance manifests in changes to abiotic environmental conditions, alterations in community composition, and shifts in overall ecosystem functionality. The gradual process of ecosystem recovery post-disturbance is referred to as ecological succession.

Mount Papandayan's forest has served as a natural laboratory for ITB researchers, offering insights into ecological succession and restoration phenomena. Prof. Endah shared research findings on 43 tree species, delving into their phenology, inflorescence, fruiting, and natural regeneration schemes.

Prof. Endah highlighted the importance of preventing disturbances, particularly fires, as repeated disturbances were shown to impede or even halt tree biodiversity recovery. She emphasized the need for comprehensive information on tree species characteristics to guide restoration efforts effectively.

The oration concluded with insights into accelerating natural regeneration, such as the installation of bird perches to attract seed-bearing birds and strategic tree species selection based on various factors. Prof. Endah's oration illuminated the complex dynamics of ecological restoration, urging a holistic approach to secure the future of tropical rainforests.

Reporter: Hanifa Juliana (Urban and Regional Planning, 2020)

Translator: Anggi Nurdiani (Management, 2021)

Editor: Vera Citra Utami