InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Twenty-one Nobel laureates, Turing Award recipients, scientists, academics and international figures gathered at Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservation (TWNC) in Lampung on August 27–28, 2026, turning the remote conservation area into a meeting point for global science and Indonesia's biodiversity.
The visit offered the international delegation an opportunity to explore Indonesia's rich natural heritage while learning about a conservation program that has been developed over three decades.
The delegation was hosted by Siti Hediati Soeharto, chairwoman of Commission IV of Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR RI).
TWNC was selected because of its diverse landscape and long history of ecosystem protection. The conservation area has been managed by Artha Graha Peduli (AGP) since 1996 and has subsequently become part of AGP's environmental program in cooperation with Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry.
The area covers approximately 48,153 hectares of forest and 14,089 hectares of marine conservation waters. Its ecosystems include lowland tropical rainforest, coastal forest, mangroves, lakes, freshwater wetlands and secondary forests.
Tomy Winata's Long-Term Conservation Commitment
Behind Tambling's three-decade conservation journey is businessman and Artha Graha Peduli founder Tomy Winata.
His environmental involvement has extended beyond social activities to the protection of forests, wildlife and marine ecosystems.
TWNC, located at the southern tip of Sumatra, represents one of the most visible manifestations of that commitment. AGP has managed and supported the conservation area since 1996.
The approach combines forest protection with wildlife conservation, biodiversity research, community involvement and the development of sustainable conservation practices.
Winata has also spoken publicly about his interest in conservation. In a 2015 interview with Antara, he said his appreciation for nature and wildlife was among the reasons he became involved in managing TWNC.
Among the programs developed at Tambling are the rehabilitation of Sumatran tigers, biodiversity research and monitoring, and community engagement. The conservation area has also become a venue for wildlife conservation, scientific research, community development and responsible ecotourism.
Ramos-Horta Highlights Leadership
The conservation model at Tambling also drew attention from José Ramos-Horta, Timor-Leste's president and the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
During his visit, Ramos-Horta highlighted leadership as one of the lessons that could be drawn from Tambling's three-decade history. He specifically referred to Winata's leadership in managing the conservation area.
“One thing that can be learned is leadership. This is Tomy Winata's leadership,” Ramos-Horta said while attending a sea turtle hatchling release event.
However, he stressed that conservation cannot succeed through the efforts of the site manager alone.
Local communities, he said, must be involved and have confidence in the conservation process because they live alongside and interact directly with the ecosystem.
Tambling Seen as a Living Laboratory
Siti Hediati Soeharto said Tambling's 30-year experience demonstrates that conservation requires a long-term commitment.
She described the area as having the potential to become a center for learning and research, bringing conservation together with different scientific disciplines.
Tambling could eventually function as a “living laboratory” where nature intersects with science, technology, education and international cooperation.
The presence of scientists and global figures could also expand knowledge-sharing on how science and technology can strengthen biodiversity protection, respond to climate change and support sustainable development.
Sumatran Tiger Conservation Takes Center Stage
One of the key conservation programs presented to the visitors was the protection of the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), a critically endangered species.
Through rehabilitation programs, rescued tigers that have faced dangerous situations or human-wildlife conflicts are treated before potentially being returned to their natural habitat.
Tiger rehabilitation and release are among Tambling's major conservation activities.
Protecting the tiger, however, also means protecting the ecosystem on which the species depends. Maintaining tiger habitat requires the preservation of forests, water sources and the broader food chain supporting numerous species.
Forests also perform wider ecological functions, including carbon storage, water regulation and providing environmental support for surrounding communities.
21 Global Figures Visit Tambling
The delegation included figures from a wide range of disciplines, including Nobel Prize recipients, computer science, cryptography, astrophysics, economics, agriculture and environmental science.
Among those listed were:
- José Ramos-Horta – Nobel Peace Prize 1996
- Frances H. Arnold – Nobel Chemistry 2018
- Tim Hunt – Nobel Physiology or Medicine 2001
- Benjamin List – Nobel Chemistry 2021
- Robert C. Merton – Nobel Economic Sciences 1997
- Konstantin Novoselov – Nobel Physics 2010
- Frederick Jay Ramsdell – Nobel Physiology or Medicine 2025
- James A. Robinson – Nobel Economic Sciences 2024
- Brian Paul Schmidt – Nobel Physics 2011
- David Beasley – Nobel Peace Prize/World Food Programme 2020
- Jack Joseph Dongarra – Computer Science/Mathematics 2021
- Martin Edward Hellman – Computer Science/Cryptography 2015
- Whitfield Diffie – Computer Science/Cryptography 2015
- Richard S. Sutton – Computer Science 2024
- Torsten Hoefler – Computer Science 2025
- Sara Seager – Astrophysics 2024
- Howard Yana Shapiro – Agriculture & Environmental Sciences 2009
- Kailash Satyarthi – Nobel Peace Prize 2014
- Leander Heldring – Economic Sciences 2024
- Peter Badge – Nobel Photographer 2000
- Gilles Brassard – Computer Science 2025
Their diverse backgrounds created an opportunity to exchange ideas about conservation, technology, economics, education, climate change and sustainable development.
One member of the delegation, Laura Anne, said Tambling differed from conventional conservation sites because it was not simply a park or a place to observe wildlife. She described it as a functioning natural ecosystem where animals, birds, fish and other forms of life continue to coexist.
The challenge, she said, is preserving that uniqueness without losing its authenticity.
The visit ultimately positioned Tambling not merely as a destination for showcasing Indonesian biodiversity, but as a field where conservation experience, scientific knowledge and ideas about the future of the environment intersect.
For Tomy Winata and Artha Graha Peduli, TWNC represents one example of private-sector involvement in protecting Indonesia's forests and biodiversity. For the visiting scientists and international figures, Tambling provided a real-world setting for examining how conservation can be sustained through long-term commitment and collaboration.
The principle reflects the message associated with TWNC's founder: “We protect nature, and nature protects us.” (T1)
Source: InfoSAWIT
