Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia – 12 June 2026 – In celebration of the International Day of Botanic Garden Education 2026, the Ethnobiological Society of Indonesia (PMEI), in collaboration with Gianyar Botanic Garden and partner schools, organized a climate education programme centered on the conservation of Pinanga arinasae, an endangered palm species endemic to Bali.
The programme, titled "Empowering Youth Climate Action through the Conservation of Pinanga arinasae at Gianyar Botanic Garden, Bali," transforms plant conservation into a hands-on climate learning experience for elementary school students. Pinanga arinasae, classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, serves as a powerful symbol of both local identity and the urgent need for ecological resilience.
Through biodiversity exploration, climate education activities, waste management awareness, and hands-on planting experiences, students learned how plants and ecosystems contribute to climate resilience and a more sustainable future. Using Pinanga arinasae as a living example, students explored how plants store carbon, regulate microclimates, and support ecosystem stability. The programme featured interactive public talks at the botanic garden linking palm conservation to broader environmental processes, culminating in a collective planting activity where students actively planted Pinanga arinasae. Highlights from the programme can be viewed at https://www.instagram.com/p/DZwX_6gTzR-/ and https://www.instagram.com/p/DZe43gJE-4a/?img_index=1.
This initiative represents a transformative moment where children directly connect climate knowledge with conservation practice, fostering responsibility, ownership, and an emotional bond with their natural heritage. Together, we are nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards through biodiversity conservation and climate action.
The project is made possible through the generous support of the Korea National Arboretum (KNA), implemented under an Education Grant from Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). The grant programme supports activities that demonstrate the important role of botanic gardens in education, with selected projects from 10 institutions across 9 countries participating in the global celebration.
"We extend our sincere gratitude to BGCI and KNA for their generous support, as well as Gianyar Botanic Garden, participating schools, teachers, and students for making this programme possible," said Prof. Dr. Wawan Sujarwo, Executive Director of PMEI. "Engaging children at an early age is critical to shaping long-term environmental awareness. These students will leave not just with knowledge, but with a sense that they are active contributors to climate solutions."
The International Day of Botanic Garden Education, established during the 11th International Congress on Education in Botanic Gardens (11ICEBG) in Seoul, South Korea, recognizes the critical role botanic garden education plays in connecting people with plants, fostering environmental awareness, and inspiring action for conservation.
This initiative highlights the evolving role of botanic gardens as dynamic spaces for climate education, connecting children directly with endemic species to transform abstract climate concepts into tangible, lived experiences.