Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) Restoration Program
November 2, 2010
Background:
The Orangutan Information Centre (OIC) was founded in 2001 by a group of Indonesian conservationists, and partnered with the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS), to raise awareness of environmental and orangutan conservation issues amongst local communities. The Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) restoration program is a local community development project managed by OIC aimed at undoing the damage caused through large-scale conversion of national park forest into plantation agriculture. Various indigenous seedlings have been cultivated and maintained locally, within four separate nursery sites developed in the community. In addition to forest rehabilitation, the project provides sustainable alternative livelihoods for local people living adjacent to this area, thus they will not only gain from having the forests reforested (and therein a return of valuable natural ecological services lost to forest clearing and monoculture agricultural development), but also benefit as a community through training and agroforestry schemes. The program was initiated in August 2007 and now operates in conjunction with a local community farmers’ group established as a result of this initiative, to carry out replanting and serve as in-field management for the project.
Objectives:
• To help enhance the rehabilitation of degraded GLNP areas as a result of deforestation and conversion to oil palm plantations, by replanting land with indigenous tree species
• Conduct regular maintenance of planted trees to help ensure their survival and growth
• Monitor the land and planted trees within the GLNP to ensure continued security and protection from any further encroachment
• To improve the capacity of local communities in conservation and forestry program in an effort to increase ownership and responsibility of local communities towards the sustainability of the GLNP
Two groups of seedlings will be replanted in the national park:
• Indigenous hardwood tree species that naturally grow in the forests of the GLNP
• Fruit tree species to be planted in an area designated for a community forestry program to reinforce buffer-zones adjacent to the park
Impact
Since the inception of the program, 100,876 tree seedlings have been cultivated and planted on 82.6 hectares of degraded national park land. Realizing that local people and their support are an absolutely vital aspect of any conservation effort, we have made it a cornerstone of all of our work to involve and also encourage communities to initiate their own conservation activities. Without the local people’s commitment, the project will fail to engage and educate those who have the most direct interaction with the forests and also the most immediate influence on the sustainability of these habitats. When people are taught about the many intrinsic ecological services and values provided by orangutans and their forest homes, they are much more likely to support and campaign for their conservation. The program has also provided alternative additional incomes for the people in the form of job opportunities in the nursery and in replanting activities. Entrepreneurship was encouraged through the development of community based tree nurseries which can support replanting and forestry programs. The local community has initiated this scheme and provided a supply of seedlings for local replanting initiatives. The forestry scheme is also being promoted to local communities that are not currently involved in the replanting program.
The reforestation efforts are making a direct impact on the condition of the forests and over time will improve the rainforest habitat that several endemic, endangered species such as the Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae), Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus), Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis), Malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus), Thomas leaf monkey (Presbytis thomasi), long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis), pig-tailed macaque (M. nemestrina), slow loris (Nycticebus coucang), gibbons and siamangs (Family Hylobatidae) and numerous unique reptile, insect, bird and plant species call their home.
The replanting program has instilled positive views on the importance of protecting forests from encroachment in order to maintain ecological sustainability.
Peran Serta Masyarakat Lokal Dalam Program Rehabilitasi Taman Nasional Gunung Leuser
May 11, 2009
Banyaknya kerusakan hutan di Indonesia bukanlah merupakan berita baru, termasuk didalamnya kerusakan yang terjadi dikawasan Taman Nasional Gunung Leuser (TNGL), berdasarkan citra lansat 2005 tercatat 22.000 Ha kawasan TNGL telah rusak dan mengalami degradasi yang serius.
Tahun 2007 yang lalu tepatnya di Desa Halaban, di Dusun Wonosari terbentuklah sebuah kelompok masyarakat (KSM) yang diberi nama Kelompok Tani Pencinta TNGL, namun seiring waktu berjalan akhirnya kelompok masyarakat ini diberi nama baru pada komunitasnya, nama tersebut adalah Kelompok Tani Pelindung Leuser yang disingkat dengan KETAPEL.
Sejak tahun 2008 kelompok ini telah memulai kegiatannya, dengan produksi bibit sebanyak 97.700 bibit dengan jenis yang beragam antara lain; tanaman Sungkai (Peronema canescens), Salam (Syzygium polyanthum), Pulai (Alstonia scolaris), Jengkol (Archidendron pauciflorum), Cempedak (Artocarpus champedan), Durian (Durio zibethinus), Bira-bira (Dillinea excelsa) dan Kayu Lanang (Oroxylum indicum). Untuk keberlanjutan program berikutnya akan di upayakan pohon yang pernah tumbuh di kawasan TNGL tersebut, namun harus ada kajian ekologis kawasan terlebih dahulu, bibit yang nantinya akan diupayakan dan telah direkomendasikan oleh pihak Balai Besar Taman Nasional, Seksi Pengelolaan Taman Nasional wilayah VI Besitang adalah Bayur (Pterospermum javanicum), Beringin (Ficus benjamina L), Damar (Agathis spp) dan Petai (Parkia speciosa).
Terhitung sejak bulan Maret 2008, kegiatan penanaman sudah mulai dilaksanakan, hingga saat ini jumlah tanaman yang sudah di tanam di Resort Sei Betung berjumlah 92.076 bibit (bekas lahan kelapa sawit yang di serobot oleh PT. Putri Hijau dan PT. Rapala, dengan estimasi kerusakan mencapai 500 Ha), dengan luasan yang sudah ditanam 74,6 Ha. Setelah melakukan penanaman, maka perawatan dilakukan dengan melakukan pembersihan gulma pada daerah sekitar lubang penanaman bibit. Dan bila ada ditemukan bibit yang mati maka akan dilakukan penyulaman. Perawatan tanaman diserahkan sepenuhnya kepada KETAPEL dan hingga saat ini perawatan dilokasi penanaman telah dilakukan sebanyak 43 Ha. Hal ini berdampak positif pada masyarakat, dimana biasanya kegiatan rehabilitasi kawasan sangat jarang melibatkan masyarakat dalam aplikasinya, Adanya peran serta masyarakat dalam pelaksanaan program, meningkatkan pengetahuan melalui diskusi kelompok, curah pendapat, penyuluhan lingkungan dan penyadaran melalui media film yang mudah diserap masyarakat. Peningkatan pengetahuan itu juga di dapat oleh anak-anak yang ada di dusun tersebut. Memasyarakatkan kegiatan konservasi bukan hal yang mudah namun harus di laksanakan sejak dini, ini merupakan proses yang berdampak positif bagi masyarakat.
Tanggal 02 November 2008 yang lalu akhirnya kelompok ini mengadakan kegiatan penguatan keberadaan organisasi mereka dengan kegiatan pengukuhan. Adapun kegiatan pengukuhan ini dihadiri oleh Kepala Bidang Taman Nasional Wilayah III Stabat, Pemerintahan setempat (Kepala Desa), LMD, Remaja Mesjid serta Orangutan Information Centre (OIC) selaku lembaga swadaya yang mendampingi masyarakat dan kelompok dalam program rehabilitasi kawasan TNGL sejak tahun 2007. Pengukuhan ini berjalan lancar, sederhana dan penuh khidmad. Dalam kata sambutannya pihak BBTNGL merasa senang sekali dengan terbentuknya KETAPEL di dalam masyarakat yang peduli terhadap TNGL, karena dengan terbentuknya kelompok masyarakat yang peduli akan sangat membantu sekali program pemerintah dalam melestarikan hutan konservasi yang telah ditatapkan sejak tahun 1997 silam oleh mentri kehutanan, terbentuknya KETAPEL adalah wujud dari saling berbagi tanggung jawab semua pihak dalam melestarikan kawasan TNGL
Di acara tersebut juga masyarakat yang tergabung dalam KETAPEL mengutarakan pernyataan sikap mereka yang disaksikan oleh semua undangan yang hadir adapun isi pernyataan sikap tersebut antara lain:
- Kami Kelompok Tani Pelindung Leuser, menentang dan mengecam segala bentuk kegiatan yang dapat mengancam dan merusak kawasan ekosistem taman nasional gunung leuser.
- Kami Kelompok Tani Pelindung Leuser, adalah petani-petani yang peduli, siap melindungi dan menjaga kawasan ekosistem taman nasional gunung leuser agar tetap lestari
- Kami Kelompok Tani Pelindung Leuser, siap membantu program-program pemerintah dalam usaha menghutankan kembali kawasan taman nasional gunung leuser yang telah rusak, akibat aktivitas illegal dan siap membantu menjaga kawasan taman nasional gunung leuser untuk tetap lestari.
Harapan kedepan TNGL yang telah ditetapkan sebagai Tropical rain forest heritage of Sumatera oleh UNESCO akan tetap terjaga untuk anak cucu. Penetapan ini di latar belakangi oleh pentingnya eksistensi TNGL sebagai bagian penting dari kesatuan ekosistem dunia.
Kebun Pembibitan dan Pelatihan OIC
March 13, 2009
Sumber daya alam (SDA) pertanian khususnya bibit tanaman terbentang luas diseluruh kawasan nusantara yang merupakan potensi besar negara Indonesia. Kondisi tersebut merupakan aset yang sangat mahal dan sekaligus sebagai faktor keunggulan yang tidak dimiliki oleh negara-negara lain. Potensi sumber daya alam pertanian tersebut merupakan faktor dominan dalam strategi pembangunan bangsa dan negara Indonesia.
Oleh karena itu Orangutan Information Centre (OIC) membangun sebuah wadah sebagai sarana pendukung kegiatan tersebut, khusunya pembibitan dan perbanyakan tanaman sebagai pusat pelatihan konservasi alam dan lingkungan hidup yang mencakup pelatihan pembibitan, pelatihan daur ulang kertas dan barang bekas serta pelatihan pembuatan kompos.
Diatas lahan seluas 2000 meter persegi yang berlokasi di Lingkungan V Jl. Andayani Kelurahan Delitua Timur Kecamatan Deli Tua Kabupaten Deli Serdang Propinsi Sumatera Utara, Indonesia, sekarang sedang dibangun fasilitas sederhana yang menunjang kegiatan konservasi alam dan lingkungan hidup. Sudah tersedianya sebuah gubuk/saung pembibitan dengan luas 50 meter persegi di kebun pembibitan dan pelatihan OIC ini. Program ini berjutuan untuk memproduksi bibit tanaman secara berkelanjutan dan menunjang kegiatan pelatihan-pelatihan konservasi, baik untuk siswa, mahasiswa, guru dan masyarakat umum tentunya.
Jenis tanaman yang dibudidayakan antara lain: Bibit Sungkai (Peronema canescens), Ingul (Tona sinensis), Mahoni (Swietenia mahagoni Jacq), Durian (Durio zibethinus), Petai (Parkia speciosa). Pokat (Persea Americana), Krepayung (Filicium desipiens), Meranti (Shorea sp), Tanjung (Mimusops elengi), Petai (Parkia speciosa), Coklat (Theobroma cacao), Manggis (Garcinia mangostana), Aren (Arenga pinnata), Matau dan Glodokan, serta bibit-bibit tanaman lainnya. Saat ini telah tersedia lebih dari 25.000 bibit tanaman di kebun pembibitan tersebut dengan rencana produksi hingga 1000.000 pohon yang akan dijual (one stop shopping plants) dan sebagian lagi disumbangkan untuk kegiatan penghijauan dan reboisasi lahan.
Sementara itu rencana pengembangan berikutnya diupayakan tersedianya demplot tanaman obat, demplot kompos, damplot daur ulang kertas dan perpustakaan mini untuk pelajar, mahasiswa dan masyarakat umum berisikan buku cerita anak, buku tentang lingkungan dan tanaman serta buku mengenai satwa yang dilindungi. Kemudian dilokasi tersebut juga diupayakan sebagai tempat atau wadah pertemuan dan diskusi kepada pihak-pihak pemerhati lingkungan dan kelompok mahasiswa, siswa pencinta alam sebagai tempat bercerita, curah pendapat dan berbagi pengalaman dan ilmu di lokasi tersebut.
Some background and more on GLNP replanting!
September 26, 2008
Since 1982, a transmigration project in northern Sumatra, supported by the Asian Development Bank, has been encroaching on the Gunung Leuser National Park, a major area of focus for the OIC. Development plans were incompatible with forestry policy, and rapidly resulted in the expansion of oil palm plantations inside the boundaries of the protected area. The transmigration project, in combination with community plantation developments, has enhanced business investment in the region. Subsequently, the area of land under cultivation with oil palms has expanded rapidly in the Langkat regency.
The on-site nursery in Besitang
One of the main priorities of forestry policy-making is forest rehabilitation programmes. This sort of policy had its formal beginnings in what was called the National Forest Rehabilitation Movement, also known in Indonesia as the GERHAN/GNHRL. The programme was started by former President Megawati Soekarno Putri, and was later continued as the Gerakan Indonesia Menanam program (Indonesia planting movement), which was inaugurated by the current President, Susilo Bambang Yudoyono, in 2007. The replanting program calls for fast replanting in order to offset the damage already done to Indonesia’s forests, (which are being destroyed at a rate of 1.6 million hectares per year, equating to 3 hectares per minute). To support major national programmes such as this, stakeholders from all relevant sectors must be engaged and become part of the solution, including local and national government officials, industry members such as logging companies and plantation management groups, and the local people living alongside the forests.
The oil palm trees in the background are the remaining 100 hectares of illegal trees in the national park that we are still seeking funding to remove and replant with indigenous forest species
Replanting programmes in Indonesia thus need to be implemented to restore critical degraded land and counter this rapid level of deforestation in Indonesia; therefore the OIC embarked upon a large-scale forest replanting project being in the Besitang region of the Gunung Leuser National Park. We have just in the last few months signed a 5-year extendable MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the national park, so many of our programmes are done in conjunction with GLNP officials.
Around four million people living in the provinces of Aceh and North Sumatra depend on the 25 million hectare Leuser Ecosystem (which contains the one million hectare GLNP) for ecological services such as the provision of water for consumption and irrigation, soil fertility, flood control, and climate regulation.
The OIC programme, sponsored by Lush, Musim Mas, and now with contributions made from the Rainforest Site (Link to the Rainforest site), serves to rehabilitate the park through the reforestation of degraded land in the park buffer zone. This is a local community development project aimed at undoing the damage caused through large-scale conversion of national park forest into plantation agriculture by the management group PT. Putri Hijau and PT. Rapala, amongst other smaller offenders. In addition to forest rehabilitation, the project provides sustainable alternative livelihood schemes for local people living adjacent to this area, thus they will not only gain from having the forests regrown (and therein a return of the water supply previously lost to the high rate of water absorption by oil palms), but will also benefit as a community through training and agroforestry schemes.
It's nearly a desert out there, but with the programme ongoing soon again it will be forest capable of supporting rich levels of biodiversity!
As the ecosystem is restored, local people benefit from increased levels of soil, water, and mineral retention, increased plant pollination and pest control from forest fauna and flora, flood and fire prevention, carbon storage, etc. This helps local people as they benefit from these ecosystem services, and in the process biodiversity levels are maintained and, over time, increase. We also work closely with local government bodies to establish a program of continuous monitoring and rehabilitation, as well as law enforcement initiatives to ensure long-term sustainability.
The local protector of the off-site nursery! 
First published on http://sos-oic.blogspot.com/2008/09/gunung-leuser-national-park-replanting.html
Palm Oil Roadshows
July 1, 2008
Indonesia and Malaysia account for about 85% of the world’s production of palm oil, with demand and therein supply rising each year; with Indonesia overtaking Malaysia as the world’s number one producer (link) . Ideal land for oil palm plantations unfortunately happens to be land once covered by lowland forest, the habitat preferred by orangutans and countless other species (high conservation value forest – HCVF).
The land clearing and development necessary to create an oil palm plantation severely alters the ecosystem, so that most species both plant and animal can no longer live in these areas.
As is becoming more and more common, orangutans are entering oil palm plantations (and other human developments) searching for food, causing damage to plants and eating the fruit. This results in a high level of human-wildlife conflict, as the plantation is concerned with maintaining its profits, which may be lessened by orangutans and other wildlife raiding food crops. The cause of this conflict is the rapid loss of the biodiversity-rich tropical rainforest that serves as ranging/foraging habitat for the species living within.
Rather than trying to go into deeper detail on the problems with palm oil here – I recommend reading:
1. The previously referenced report written by Helen Buckland, SOS’s UK Director, The Oil for Ape Scandal, available from: here
2. Eye on Aceh’s ‘The ‘Golden’ Crop? Palm Oil in Post-Tsunami Aceh’ available from: here
- Palm oil roadshow activities
The SOS-OIC has therefore started the Palm Oil Plantation Roadshow Initiative, in conjunction with The Great Ape Film Initiative (GAFI), and therein Films4Conservation (http://www.films4.org/) and the work of Patrick Rouxel (Patrick Rouxel), along with one of our regular partner NGOs, the Orang Utan Republik Initiative (OUREI).
- Palm Oil Roadshow Activities
The objectives of the project are as follows:
- To alleviate human-orangutan conflicts on oil-palm and rubber plantation estates through the distribution of a training film targeted at plantation workers, combined with workshops and focus groups.
- Through the use of the film ( some of which can be viewed in full at Cockroach Productions), in conjunction with workshops, change the perception of orangutans held within the palm oil industry
- Use education to improve the prospects of a sustainable industry and the survival of orangutans in expanding agricultural landscapes.
- To provide information on forest loss and degradation, and to examine the perceptions of local communities through visualization of the issues.
- To gather data on the attitudes of local communities towards human-orangutan conflict, forest degradation and conservation issues through focus group discussions, questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.
- To gather data on the scale of human-orangutan conflicts in plantation estates surrounding orangutan habitat areas.
- To make environmental films available to audiences in great ape range states through distribution of film copies to relevant stakeholders
- To introduce and promote “mobile environmental cinema” to local forest and agricultural communities.
- To expand the capacity of field educators to communicate crucial messages about human-orangutan conflict
- Palm oil roadshows activities
Roadshows are being conducted in North Sumatra, primarily visiting oil palm and rubber plantations. The schedule of activities includes screening top-quality conservation films produced in local language, conducting mitigation workshops, and focus-group discussions and debates to try and better understand the conflict from the perspective of the local community themselves.
In terms of what we teach at plantations – well, it’s all very new, currently being tested material. Former SOS employee and now consultant, PHd student Gail Angela Campbell-Smith, is the only person conducting research on human-orangutan conflict; and we have been spreading her devised tactics – using a cannon like apparatus that only makes a loud bang to scare orangutans away (no projectiles!), spreading nets that have been soaked in chili oil across fruit trees, and using other noise making tools to frighten orangutans away (which has actually proven rather effective, and easy to do since many people stay inside the plantations and can intercept orangutans).
Also whenever people encounter orangutans in plantations we tell them to contact the government (of which we’ve been given permission to give personal contact details of an official in the nature conservation department in Indonesia), and/or the Sumatran Orangutan Society, or also our friends at the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP).
- Palm oil roadshows activities
In addition to information from Gail’s research, I have spoken with other farmers (one in Tangkahan at last week’s conservation camp (a post soon to follow!) who said he has orangutans in his area that occasionally raid his crops. And it’s somewhat surprising the level to which people CAN be largely tolerant of these losses from orangutans. A lot of people like and respect orangutans for being closely related to us, and so long as they don’t become destitute themselves they co-exist with the orangutans. Though for how long, and how many of the total people on the island are tolerant, unknown.
- Palm oil roadshows activities
Ultimately though orangutans living in areas that have become too far isolated in areas of human development, with no forest corridor present to return to the larger forest blocks, are most likely going to have to be moved if they are to survive into the future. So the solution is to get them away from people, which is not only going to be very costly, but also how does one safely move a 150 or so kg adult male orangutan? Or even a 70kg female orangutan for that matter (not much easier!)? And also where do we move them to, with forests in Sumatra shrinking by the day?
So, again, it’s a very new field and there is not a simple solution. Well, there is – stop cutting down all the forests and/or planting crops so close to them. But… that’s not really simple either (a good time to remind ourselves that if we lived on farms and something were negatively affecting our productivity, how would we respond? / also, it’s easy to tell the people here not to cut down their forests, but what have we already mostly done with our native lands?)!
- Palm oil roadshows activities
… So as not to end here on a negative note – progress is being made!
The SOS-OIC is very busy currently in its tree replanting efforts throughout North Sumatra (with potential plans to spread into the Aceh Province)! We are working in close collaboration with the Gunung Leuser National Park, and are ‘putting back’ some of the forest that has been lost to time and development.
Also every day that our staff is out here working and talking with the communities, we are making things better. We are constantly learning more and devising new plans and strategies to help save the orangutans. And of course, such a big part of that is dependent on the whims of the people living adjacent to orangutan populations; such that if they choose that orangutans are worth fighting for and saving, they will work to ensure that happens.
Although this programme mostly focuses on adults working in these plantations, there is also a session held just for the children of those adults, whom also stay on the plantations.
Everyone has to be involved – we’ve got to learn from whilst at the same time educate all of the relevant stakeholders (on past mistakes that we’ve made that can be avoided, the importance of the forest/orangutans in providing natural ecological services to mankind, etc).
- Palm oil roadshows activities
So, it’s up to ALL of us. Let’s keep up the good work and do something then!
First published on http://sos-oic.blogspot.com/2008/07/palm-oil-roadshows.html
Gunung Leuser National Park Replanting Project
May 14, 2008
One of the single most important factors affecting the remaining orangutan populations is forestry management. The focus has to change from timber-orientated management, as it stands now, to sustainable management of forested areas that involve local communities and recognises them as key stakeholders. Replanting programmes need to be implemented to restore critical degraded land and counter this rapid level of deforestation in Indonesia.
Therefore the Sumatran Orangutan Society has been involved in forest rehabilitation (planting) since 2005, and to date have planted over a quarter of a million (that deserves its zeros – 250,000,000) new trees in Sumatra!
To this end we are still working, and today I will detail one of our latest projects, the replanting of a portion of deforested national park in Langkat, North Sumatra.
Dr. Gan (Musim Mas) and our conservation division coordinator Mustaqim at the tree nursery
This project is in conjunction with multiple bodies, again with funding from LUSH Natural Cosmetics, but also the SOS-OIC has partnered with a palm oil corporation, Musim Mas, for both funding as well as consulting. It may seem an unlikely pairing, seeing that palm oil plantations are now seen as one of if not the major threat to orangutans. However, the plantation industry has begun to acknowledge its effects and is now seeking to lessen their impacts on the environment.
The area of Gunung Leuser National Park to be replanted
Accompanying my visit to our replanting project was Musim Mas’s sustainability officer, Dr. Gan. Admittedly before meeting him I was pessimistic about the company’s role, however after a long discussion have instead come to have a bit of hope in the potential role of the industry in the future. He has worked with other plantation companies before, and has brought them to RSPO (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil – http://www.rspo.org/) standards, and is working to bring Musim Mas up to the same standards.
It is not to say that all is perfect with palm oil, and that each and every company is working to meet the same standards. Perhaps in this respect Musim Mas can be seen as an exception rather than the majority. However it is still a very positive sign that industry stakeholders are themselves working to better their operations and lessen their impacts on the environment; whilst also partnering up with NGOs such as the Sumatran Orangutan Society to actively regenerate forest habitat.
Anyways… back to the project itself!
The tree seeds
Objectives:
· Rehabilitate areas of Gunung Leuser National Park which have been degraded as a result of illegal agricultural encroachment (the land was actually taken and developed by a neighbouring palm oil company; but reclaimed through the efforts of the Sumatran Orangutan Society, with the authority of the National Government!) by replanting with indigenous tree species.
· Provide local communities with specific environmental educational and practical training on tree propagation and nursery management.
· Implement capacity-building activities in local communities to instill a sense of pride and responsibility towards the sustainable management of the National Park.
· Communicate the urgency of the conservation of Sumatran orangutans to local communities living adjacent to orangutan habitat.
· Inform local communities about the importance of protecting the integrity of the natural forest, both as Sumatran orangutan habitat, and as providing valuable ecological services of benefit to themselves.
· Provide an on-going supply of seedlings to support reforestation and re-greening efforts in Gunung Leuser National Park.
· Establish community forestry schemes in target areas to reinforce National Park buffer zones and provide sustainable alternative incomes for communities living adjacent to the park.
National Park Officials, Dr. Gan from Musim Mas, SOS-OIC staff, and local community members involved in the replanting programme.
A principal element in all of our programmes is the involvement of the local community. Without the input and support from the people living adjacent to the forests and the orangutans, any associated conservation programmes are inevitably doomed to failure.
Therefore, through February 2008, the SOS-OIC facilitated six meetings on topics suited to group needs. Community discussions were held on the initiative of forming farm groups, strategic planning of nursery management, justification and socialization of the replanting programme, replanting plans and the role of the implementing team, discussion on endangered endemic Indonesian flora and fauna by BKSDA (Indonesian government conservation body) staff, and an open focus group discussion to address any other questions and concerns of the people.
The on-site nursery and location of our National Park replanting programme.
Obstacles Encountered
1. Due to an extended dry season, the farm groups were forced to postpone planting. The seedlings should be planted in the rainy season so as to avoid a high percentage of seed death. Therefore until wet conditions return the community will focus its efforts on the nursery location (should be about ready to plant right now though!).
2. The farm groups are not ready to protect the surrounding forested area from forest-clearing by the people from outside their own villages. This takes place because is no legal decree/MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) which protects the land and strengthens the authority of local community members who plan to rehabilitate the area. This will require further coordination and deliberation from various stakeholders, a venture the SOS-OIC is up to tackling!
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Have added a links and news menu to the side of the weblog for your convenience.
Also for for those of you interested in conservation in Indonesia in general, consider joining the INCL list:
The Indonesian Nature Conservation newsLetter (INCL) is a non-profit internet e-mail list for announcements and news about topics related to nature conservation in Indonesia. Messages appear in digest format and are sent out once a week in both English and bahasa Indonesia, text or HMTL format (English and bahasa Indonesia editions differ and are not just translations). English version of INCL was first published as the initiation of Ed-Colijn on 1998. Then it improved on 1999 with assistance provided by Muhamad Muchtar. In the middle of year 2000, INCL in Indonesian version was published. Since 2005 INCL has started using googlegroups mailing list until now.
To (un-)subscribe, or if you have questions or relevant writings/contributions to be published in either English or Indonesian, please send email to the INCL team at: incl.contact@gmail.com or incl.kontak@gmail.com (Indonesian edition).
First published on http://sos-oic.blogspot.com/2008/05/gunung-leuser-national-park-replanting.html
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