Preservation of Rare Fruit Trees and Local Food Genetic Resources to Enhance UI GreenMetric Ranking at Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia

Abstract

Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia aspires to transform into a campus that promotes balance between mental and physical health. A healthy campus can provide green open space to meet existing oxygen needs and promote food security. The Green Metric World University Ranking, established by Universitas Indonesia (also known as UI GreenMetric), utilizes multiple sustainability criteria to evaluate and rank higher education institutions worldwide. The objective of this study is to enhance the ranking of UI GreenMetric by optimizing the green open space in Universitas Negeri Malang through the preservation of rare trees and local food genetic resources. The research design employs a quantitative descriptive approach, utilizing questionnaires and interviews. The study included focus group discussions and the implementation of planting rare trees and local food genetic resources on the Universitas Negeri Malang. Observations were utilized to determine the current state of rare trees and local food genetic resources at the university. Questionnaires were used through google forms and interviews conducted to gather the perspectives of the university academic community regarding the conditions and optimization of green open space and the local food genetic resources implemented at Universitas Negeri Malang. The findings indicated that the involvement of the academic community in enhancing green open space through the preservation of rare fruit trees and local food genetic resources remains at a reasonable level. Planting rare plants requires the involvement of lecturers and students who volunteer in environmental activities. Conserved rare trees have a crucial role in maintaining carbon storage, generating oxygen (O₂), supplying local food genetic resources, and offering health advantages. The optimization of the green open space on campus is anticipated to enhance the environmental health of campus and contribute to food security, and also increase the UI GreenMetric ranking.