Preface

Abstract

The International Conference on Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (ICNREC) is an annual event to discuss various topics and issues regarding the conservation of natural resources and the environment. The third year the ICNREC event was held on Oktober 27, 2023 through hybrid (both online and offline) due to COVID-19 pandemic. The offline session was held at IPB International Convention Center Bogor - West Java - Indonesia, which raised the theme: “Optimizing the roles of biodiversity in improving the economic and ecological aspects of oil palm plantation”.Indonesia is one of the countries that has started to move towards a green economy. In the 11th UNEP Special Session on Governing Council meeting in Bali, the Government of Indonesia declared a green economy paradigm. The oil palm plantation sector also plays a role in implementing a green economy through the production of environmentally friendly biofuel sources (biodiesel with a 2022 production of 8.6 million KL) and supporting the use of renewable electricity sources from biogas in CPO processing plants. Nowadays, the practice of using biodiversity for controlling pests in oil palm plantations has also been carried out, such as the use of owls, cobras, leopard cat, and macaques for natural predator. Several studies also shown the role of biodiversity as a natural pesticide in controlling caterpillar pests to replace synthetic chemical pesticides. Several companies have also started encouraging the use of biopesticides to maintain the health of the soil and palm trees. The use of organic fertilizers and biofertilizers has also been applied by national oil palm players in the last few years.Through this third ICNREC theme, with the gathering of competent and qualified experts from various disciplines and from around the world, it is hoped that discussions able to clarify the biodiversity’s role scientifically and objectively so that in the future the “best practice sustainable palm oil management” will be more applicable.The third ICNREC was held in collaboration with the Center for Study, Advocacy and Nature Conservation (PUSAKA KALAM), the Faculty of Forestry and Environment of the IPB University, and the French Agricultural Research for International Development (CIRAD) as well as for the support of sponsors {Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affair Indonesia; Indonesia Oil Palm Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS); Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI); Sinarmas Agribusiness and Food (PT SMART Tbk); PT. Adei Plantation & Industry (KLK Group); French Embassy In Indonesia; Institut Français Indonesia; Republic of Indonesia Ministry of Education and Culture (DIKTI), Asosiasi Petani Kelapa Sawit Indonesia (APKASINDO)} and those who helped run the event. As the output of this conference, a proceeding consisting of 24 papers were presented which discussed various topics about biodiversity’s roles. We are grateful for the support that has been given both in organizing conferences and in preparing proceedings and hopes that these proceedings can benefit many people.Best Regards,Prof, Dr. Ir. Yanto Santosa, DEAChairman of Committee of The 3rd ICNRECList of Committee is available in this pdf.