I am pleased to present to you the fourth quarter edition of BIOCourier, which captures the vibrant spirit of SEAMEO BIOTROP’s activities during the past months. This edition reflects our continuing efforts to strengthen education, research, and collaboration in tropical biology while addressing pressing regional challenges.

The quarter was marked by meaningful partnerships and impactful programs. We formalized our collaboration with Sakado Senior High School in Japan through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement—an important step in advancing biodiversity education across borders. We also welcomed the second batch of Capstone Internship students, providing young scholars with hands-on opportunities to contribute to our flagship programs.

Food security remains at the core of our initiatives. Through urban agriculture education in West Java and Nusa Tenggara Barat, as well as training of trainers for school-based facilitators, BIOTROP continues to empower schools as centers of learning and resilience. These initiatives do not only address food production but also build entrepreneurship, environmental awareness, and character among students.

At the regional level, BIOTROP actively contributed to the SEAMEO CPRN Summit in Brunei Darussalam, sharing our study on biodiversity inclusion in education. We also convened a seminar on degraded ecosystem restoration in collaboration with Hasanuddin University, bringing together diverse stakeholders to explore practical solutions.

In addition, we are preparing for the 63rd Governing Board Meeting by refining our strategic documents, ensuring that BIOTROP remains aligned with SEAMEO’s pillars of leadership, visibility, and resource mobilization.

As always, these achievements are possible through the dedication of our staff, the trust of our partners, and the enthusiasm of our participants. I invite you to explore the stories in this edition, which showcase how collective effort can shape a sustainable future for our region.