Semarang – The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), continues to strengthen its commitment as a conservation-oriented faculty through the management of green open spaces (GOS), biodiversity conservation, and the provision of a comfortable, inclusive, and sustainable campus environment. These initiatives represent FMIPA’s contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Life on Land by protecting terrestrial ecosystems and conserving plant biodiversity within the campus.
This commitment is reinforced by the findings of a research project entitled “Tree Diversity at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Semarang Based on the Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index and IUCN Conservation Status,” conducted by Prof. Dr. Sri Ngabekti, Trida Ridho Fariz, Prof. Dr. Dewi Liesnoor Setyowati, and Maulana Malik Wicaksono from Universitas Negeri Semarang. The study inventoried all tree vegetation across the FMIPA campus to assess tree diversity and conservation status based on the IUCN Red List, providing a scientific basis for green open space management and campus conservation strategies.
The study identified 318 individual trees representing 58 species, with a Shannon–Wiener Diversity Index (H’) of 2.95, indicating a moderate-to-high level of biodiversity. These findings demonstrate that the tree community within FMIPA is relatively diverse and stable, contributing significantly to ecological functions such as carbon sequestration, oxygen production, microclimate regulation, and habitat provision for various organisms across the campus.
The research also identified several tree species with important conservation value according to the IUCN Red List, including Pterocarpus indicus (Narra), classified as Endangered (EN), and Swietenia mahagoni (Mahogany), classified as Near Threatened (NT). The presence of these species highlights FMIPA’s role not only as a green open space but also as an ex-situ conservation area that contributes to the protection of species with significant conservation value in an increasingly urbanized environment.
As a follow-up to the research findings, FMIPA continuously maintains the quality of its green open spaces through routine vegetation management, including grass mowing, plant maintenance, and landscape management to ensure a healthy, safe, and pleasant environment. These maintenance activities are carried out while preserving tree species with conservation value, ensuring that the ecological functions of the campus landscape remain intact alongside ongoing infrastructure development.
Beyond biodiversity conservation, FMIPA also provides green spaces that support academic and social activities. Several gazebos are available as outdoor spaces for learning, discussion, and academic interaction in a natural setting. In addition, the faculty is equipped with accessible pedestrian pathways for persons with disabilities, ensuring that all members of the university community can enjoy the campus’s green environment in a safe, comfortable, and inclusive manner.
The rich tree diversity within FMIPA also serves as a living laboratory for education, research, and community engagement. Students utilize the campus landscape to study plant identification, biodiversity, conservation, and terrestrial ecosystem management, making the green open spaces not only aesthetically valuable but also an important educational resource for promoting biodiversity conservation.
Through research-based green open space management, the protection of tree species listed under the IUCN Red List, sustainable vegetation maintenance, and the provision of environmentally friendly and inclusive campus facilities, FMIPA UNNES continues to strengthen its role in conserving and enhancing terrestrial ecosystems. These initiatives reflect the faculty’s commitment to biodiversity conservation while reinforcing UNNES’ vision as a conservation-oriented university that integrates education, research, and sustainable environmental management.
