Gorontalo, January 20, 2025 – Students of the Geography Education Study Program at Gorontalo State University (UNG) class of 2022 successfully carried out Field Work Lectures (KKL) in Malino and Malino Highlands Tea Plantations, South Sulawesi. The activity, which took place on January 16-19, 2025, aimed to deepen students' understanding of physical geography and geomorphological landscapes in the Malino area. In this activity, students are accompanied by supervisors who are experts in the field of physical geography. The MPA series includes exploration of pine forest landscapes, analysis of soil structure and vegetation, as well as direct observation of the economic and social potential of surrounding communities that depend on the tea plantation and ecotourism sectors. One of the main locations visited is the Malino Highlands Tea Plantation, which is famous for its green landscape and cool air. Students made observations related to agroforestry systems, tea processing processes, and the impact of plantation activities on the surrounding environment. In addition, they also had the opportunity to discuss with plantation managers about environmentally friendly land management strategies. In addition to the visit to the tea plantation, students also explored several natural destinations in Malino, the Malino Pine Forest, to understand the potential of geotourism and the role of vegetation in the conservation of water resources in mountainous areas.

One of the KKL participants, Ronal Tahir, a student of the class of 2022, revealed that this experience was very valuable. "This MPA provides broad insight into how geography is not only limited to theory, but also has an important role in real life, especially in environmental management and sustainable tourism," he said. This MPA activity is also expected to improve students' analytical skills in understanding the relationship between physical and social aspects in regional management. Thus, UNG Geography Education students can be better prepared to apply their knowledge in various fields, such as regional planning, environmental conservation, and sustainability-based natural resource management.