As nature is increasingly viewed as an economic commodity and communities' living spaces are steadily displaced by exploitative interests, a fundamental question arises: where is Indonesian culture heading? That question became the starting point of the 2nd Hybrid National Seminar Series, organized by UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta in collaboration with the Cultural Commission of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (AIPI) and the Agency for Pancasila Ideology Development (BPIP), held on Thursday (11/6/2026) at the Medical Faculty Theater of UIN Sunan Kalijaga. Themed "From a Culture of Adaptation and Conservation to a Culture of Exploitation and Commercialization", the seminar served as a space for collective reflection on the ecological and social crises facing Indonesia, crises viewed not merely as environmental issues, but also as cultural, moral, and spiritual ones.

Attended by academics, researchers, cultural figures, students, and representatives from various institutions, the event brought together speakers from the fields of science, research, and cultural thought. The seminar drew 150 participants and was held in both offline and online formats, as part of an effort to broaden public participation in discussions of strategic national issues.

In his opening remarks, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Rector Prof. Noorhaidi Hasan affirmed that the seminar reflects a shared commitment to sustaining the tradition of critical reflection on the direction of Indonesian cultural development amid rapidly unfolding social, economic, political, and technological change.

He noted that the theme carries an academic urgency deeply relevant to current social conditions. He explained that the long history of the Nusantara civilization was built upon traditions of adaptation and conservation, traditions that enabled communities to navigate change while preserving the continuity of values, knowledge, and local wisdom.

"The agrarian traditions, community-based environmental management systems, various forms of local knowledge, and religious practices that developed across the Nusantara are examples of how our society, for centuries, cultivated a harmonious relationship with nature and the social environment," Prof. Noorhaidi stated.

However, he observed that in recent decades a significant shift in orientation has taken place. Nature is increasingly treated as a purely economic object, while collective values that once formed the foundation of communal life are being eroded by the logic of exploitation and commercialization.

The Rector also emphasized that the seminar's theme aligns with UIN Sunan Kalijaga's commitment to developing an ecotheology priority program, currently one of the Ministry of Religious Affairs' strategic agendas. Through this approach, the environmental crisis is understood not only as a technical and economic problem, but also as a moral, spiritual, and civilizational one.

"Religion must offer an ethical perspective that affirms humanity's responsibility as stewards and guardians of the earth. Environmental preservation must be part of the practice of religious values," he asserted.

Meanwhile, AIPI Chair Prof. Daniel Murdiyarso, who delivered remarks via video, encouraged participants to approach the seminar's themes more dialogically. He argued that adaptation and conservation need not be pitted against exploitation and commercialization, but rather that common ground should be sought to allow both to proceed sustainably.

Prof. Daniel highlighted the tendency to view adaptation merely as passive acceptance or simple adjustment. In reality, he argued, adaptation requires investment and capacity-building to minimize risks and losses.

"Adaptation must not be seen merely as a cost center. We need to recognize that adaptation can also generate benefits and strengthen community resilience," he said.

He also criticized conservation practices that are often narrowly understood as fencing off and protecting an area without allowing for the sustainability of the living systems within it. Conservation, he argued, must be actively managed so that it can deliver social, economic, and ecological benefits simultaneously. Prof. Daniel emphasized that exploitation is not inherently synonymous with destruction; what is needed is a regenerative, sustainable approach to exploitation that benefits both people and the environment.

The seminar featured four speakers from diverse fields. Prof. Yunita Triwardani Winarto (AIPI Cultural Commission) addressed the cultural crisis in the Anthropocene era and the challenges communities face in adapting to climate change. Dr. Herry Yogaswara (BRIN) examined the political economy of natural resources and its impact on local cultures. Emilianus Ola Kleden (Yayasan Masyarakat Kehutanan Lestari) highlighted the role of civil society in advocacy and the protection of indigenous territories. Dr. Budhy Munawar-Rachman (Driyarkara School of Philosophy) presented an ecotheological perspective and the values of environmental preservation. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Arifah Khusnuryani, a lecturer from the Faculty of Science and Technology at UIN Sunan Kalijaga.

Closing the seminar, Prof. Amin Abdullah warned that the ecological crisis facing the world today has reached an alarming level. Citing global historian and thinker Yuval Noah Harari, he noted that the damage humans have inflicted upon the earth over the past five decades exceeds the destruction that occurred over the preceding thousand years.

From a theological standpoint, Prof. Amin connected this phenomenon to the Qur'anic injunction against causing corruption on earth (lā tufsidū fī al-arḍi). He identified two primary drivers of environmental degradation: khaufan (fear) and tama'an (greed). Fear of poverty and deprivation often serves as a justification for the over-exploitation of natural resources, while greed gives rise to oligarchic practices and extractive industries that disregard environmental sustainability.

Prof. Amin emphasized that the debate over conservation and exploitation should not remain trapped in a mutually negating dichotomy. Instead, both must be situated within a critical and constructive dialogue involving diverse stakeholders, including civil society organizations and NGOs. He stressed that the involvement of civil society is essential to ensure that ethics and morality continue to shape development policy and natural resource management.

He also outlined four key points as a follow-up agenda. First, building more substantive dialogue between conservation and exploitation perspectives so that both can be managed sustainably. Second, strengthening ecological education through educational institutions, including all Faculties of Education (Tarbiyah) across Indonesia. Third, reinforcing the role of civil society as a guardian of public ethics and moral values. Fourth, promoting multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary approaches in formulating solutions to increasingly complex ecological challenges.

Through this forum, UIN Sunan Kalijaga reaffirmed its role as a space where scientific knowledge, religious values, and social concern converge in responding to an ever-more complex ecological crisis. The seminar was not only an arena for the exchange of ideas, but also a first step toward formulating recommendations and collective action to safeguard the sustainability of the Nusantara. Amid growing ecological and social challenges, strengthening the values of adaptation, conservation, and moral responsibility toward the environment is seen as a vital foundation for the sustainability of life for future generations. (humassk)