A. Training Cohort IV Final Module

The final module, on the topic of ‘Communication, Documentation, and Publication’, was hosted in the OIC’s Community Digital Opportunity Centre (CDOC) in Bukit Lawang, from 11 – 18 February 2011. This module is intended to teach guides how best to document and promote their work, to provide a better visitor experience and enhance their business and livelihoods. As evidenced by this quarter’s visitor questionnaire survey (see Appendix) 27% of visitors rely on internet blogs for information about tourism activities in Bukit Lawang, and 23% rely on word of mouth, so it is important that guides are able to promote their work effectively.

Throughout the week-long course, participants created and developed their own web logs and in some cases new websites 1 to promote their forest treks and local ventures, all highlighting the forest guidelines, which will assist in increasing the number of responsible tours in the forest. Those guides needing assistance in computer literacy were given special attention. The guides who have completed our training course can now professionally market their services to a larger audience, with the power of the internet allowing for past customers to comment on and share their experiences with potential future customers. Examples of new websites created by guides:

• www.jungletribesumatra.com
• www.bukitlawangexplore.com
• www.orangutanexpedition.com

B. Translocation of orangutans

After a number of meetings and discussions regarding the ex-captive orangutans in Bukit Lawang with the various stakeholders (GLNP authority, HPI Guide Association, local businesses focused on  orangutan tourism, SOCP, and the OIC), finally it was decided by the national park authority on 28 January 2011 to translocate Mina and Rada Ria to an area without any marked human presence. We did not expect Rada Ria to be included in the intended translocation, as although he is indeed quite habituated to human presence, he has not been involved in any attacks on visitors. However, due to his  lack of fear of humans and propensity to come into contact with them, and with the GLNP rangers claiming that he is starting to show signs of aggression towards them, it is best that he too be moved to a site that does not host any tourism ventures. On 17 February 2011 veterinary staff from the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program (SOCP) arrived to capture Mina and Rada Ria and bring them to  their quarantine and care centre in Batu Mbelin, North Sumatra, for the required initial health checks and quarantine process, before being moved to a new site. Rada Ria was quickly captured and placed in a transport cage and taken to the quarantine centre without the need of any sedatives, with a GLNP ranger able to easily handle him for the process.

Read full report by downloading the OIC Gunung Leuser Ecotourism Development Programme – Quarterly Report I  ( January – March 2011 ) in PDF Version.

The project aims to bring stakeholders together in an effort to rehabilitate degrade land within the park to manage the replanting of thousands of indigenous tree seedlings. By doing so, there has resulted a significant shifting in the mindset of the local community, regarding conservation issues and the protection of the park, which is also comprises the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra UNESCO World Heritage Site. The programme has resulted in more positive views about the need to sustain and protect the forests from encroachment, not only because the ecosystem has been granted full legal protection by the national government, but also to sustain the valuable ecological services that forests freely provide, which are essential for the daily lives of both wildlife and people. In addition, local people participate in useful training and capacity-building exercises in support of the restoration work, including tree nursery development, improved plantin methodology, planting maintenance, etc., and also they benefit financially through receiving a stipend for programme-related assistance. All of which in addition to helping restore this degraded tract of forest, has already resulted in local communities observing that they are already regaining the natural ecological services, namely a restoration of the local water table and drought resistance, previously lost to forest clearing and monoculture agricultural development.

This report details activities undertaken by the OIC with support from Rainforest Rescue Australia from April 2010 to March 2011. Together with KETAPEL members, 15 hectares of degraded land were planted with 38,015 indigenous seedlings cultivated with the help of local people, in a tree nursery established within the national park replanting site. Furthermore during this period seedling maintenance on 20 hectares of previously planted land was conducted; in addition to monitoring for tree growth progress and the presence of wildlife on the restoration site through  transects and the use of camera traps. Awareness raising activities for people living around the project site was also conducted, in order to engage more people in GLNP conservation efforts, with the OIC believing strongly that local communities are key in realising effective, lasting conservation.

Read full report by downloading the OIC GLNP Restoration Performance Report (reduced) in PDF Version.

Yayasan Orangutan Sumatera Lestari – Orangutan Information Centre (YOSL – OIC) yang bekerja sama dengan Orangutan Republik Foundation (OURF) sebagai lembaga yang aktif dalam upaya konservasi Orangutan Sumatera dan habitatnya telah melaksanakan Program Beasiswa Peduli Orangutan selama 6 tahun terakhir sejak tahun 2006. Saat ini penerima beasiswa dari program tersebut berjumlah 33 orang yang tersebar di beberapa kampus seperti : Kehutanan USU, Biologi USU, Biologi non-pendidikan UNIMED, Biologi UMA, dan Fakultas Kedokteran Hewan Unsyiah. Dari 33 orang penerima beasiswa tersebut, delapan diantaranya telah meraih gelar sarjana.

Beasiswa Peduli Orangutan adalah suatu program beasiswa yang merupakan kerjasama antara Yayasan Orangutan Sumatera Lestari – Orangutan Information Centre (YOSL – OIC) dengan Orangutan Republik Foundation (OURF) untuk memberikan beasiswa kepada mahasiswa/i yang memiliki komitmen dan kepedulian terhadap upaya-upaya konservasi alam dan pelestarian lingkungan khususnya perlindungan dan penyelamatan Orangutan Sumatera dan habitatnya. Pelaksanaan program beasiswa ini bekerjasama dengan institusi pendidikan dalam hal ini universitas-universitas yang berada di Provinsi Sumatera Utara dan Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

Tujuan dari diselenggarakannya program beasiswa ini adalah untuk memberikan dukungan moril dan materil kepada mahasiswa/i dalam menyelesaikan pendidikannya di universitas. Serta untuk melahirkan generasi-generasi intelektual yang memiliki komitmen dan kepedulian terhadap upaya-upaya perlindungan dan penyelamatan Orangutan Sumatera dan habitatnya.

Pada tahun ini, kegiatan seleksi Program Beasiswa Peduli Orangutan telah dilaksanakan di dua tempat berbeda. Seleksi beasiswa untuk wilayah Aceh telah dilaksanakan pada tanggal 25 Februari 2011 di Kampus Fakultas Kedokteran Hewan Unsyiah. Sedangkan untuk wilayah Sumatera Utara telah dilaksanakan di Kampus Biologi UNIMED pada tanggal 3 Maret 2011

Tim Juri yang terlibat dalam kegiatan ini adalah dosen-dosen dari kampus Biologi UNIMED, Biologi USU, Kehutanan USU, dan staf BBKSDA Sumut untuk wilayah Medan, sedangkan untuk wilayah Aceh tim juri yang terlibat adalah dosen Fakultas Kedokteran Hewan Unsyiah, staf BBKSDA Aceh, dan Direktur YOSL-OIC.

Untuk tahun ini peserta yang mengikuti program beasiswa ini mengalami peningkatan yang signifikan dibandingkan tahun sebelumnya. Jumlah peserta yang mendaftar dalam program beasiswa ini untuk wilayah Medan mengalami peningkatan sebesar 50% dari tahun sebelumnya yaitu sebanyak 21 orang yang terdiri dari 12 mahasiswa Biologi UNIMED, 5 mahasiswa Biologi USU, dan 4 mahasiswa Kehutanan USU. Sedangkan jumlah peserta yang mendaftar dalam program beasiswa ini untuk wilayah Aceh mengalami peningkatan sekitar 10-15 % dibandingkan tahun sebelumnya yaitu sebanyak 14 orang.

Rabu (16/3/11), telah dilakukan penandatanganan kontrak beasiswa yang dihadiri langsung oleh Chairman of OURF, Mr Gary Saphiro, selaku pihak yang menjadi donor dalam Program Beasiswa Peduli Orangutan. Dalam acara ceremony tersebut turut diundang seluruh penerima beasiswa tahun 2011 beserta dosen pendamping, tim juri yang terlibat, Kepala BBKSDA Provinsi Sumatera Utara, Kepala BBTNGL, dan rekan-rekan dari CPOI.

Para penerima Beasiswa Peduli Orangutan 2011, yaitu :

• Untuk wilayah Aceh (Fakultas Kedokteran Hewan UNSYIAH)

1. Joharsyah Hutabarat
2. Raja Marthunus Selian
3. Meuthya SR
4. Dina Agustina
5. Aulia Fakhrurrozi

• Untuk wilayah Sumatera Utara :

1. Muhammad Gojali Harahap (Kehutanan USU)
2. Henny L Tobing (Biologi UNIMED)
3. Hethy Novita Tamba (Biologi UNIMED)
4. Arfah Nasution  (Biologi USU)
5. Juhardi Sembiring  (Biologi USU)

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.

Indonesia is home to one of the world’s three major tropical rainforests. The other two are found in the Amazon Basin of South America (e.g. Brazil) and Central Africa (e.g. Congo). These tropical rainforests play an elemental role in regulating global weather in addition to maintaining regular rainfall, while buffering against floods, droughts, and erosion. They store vast quantities of carbon, while producing a significant amount of the world’s oxygen, serving as the Earth’s “lungs.”

Regrettably, economic and social development in recent years has been causing rainforests about two-third of Taiwan, i.e., about 9,300 sq. mi. of rainforest, to disappear each year. This makes Indonesia’s rainforests disappear faster than anywhere else in the world. Apart from attributing to global warming and climate change, rainforest depletion in Indonesia is also threatening the habitat of arboreal Sumatran orangutans, which are now critically endangered according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species. This means that Sumatran orangutans face extremely high risk of extinction in the wild if degradation, fragmentation and transformation of their habitats are not halted immediately.

The NARL-NCHC’s role in this international conservation effort is to digitize information about rainforests, orangutans, their plights and others, and to establish internet learning facilities located in remote areas of Sumatra. This information revolution for conservation efforts is the first of this kind in the country. It facilitates an innovative program of environmental education and orangutan protection through the participation and empowerment of local communities. It supports sustainable environmental development of the region. Furthermore, it makes sustainable eco-tourism in the regions feasible.

Source: http://www.narl.org.tw/en/news/news.php?news_id=460

The main goal of CDOCs is to develop a successful working model on how to apply information and communication technologies on rainforest and orangutan conservation as well as environment education for local communities living adjacent to Gunung Leuser National Park, a UNESCO Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra. GLNP is one of the richest tropical rainforests in Indonesia inscribed as the world heritage together with Kerinci Seblat National Park and Bukit Barisan National Park. It lies in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and North Sumatera Provinces covering 1.094.692 hectares. Tangkahan and Bukit Lawang Ecotourism Areas exploit the beauty of nature as well as flora and fauna diversity as to enjoying and learning media for the coming visitors. Recently, ecotourism development in these area is needed as to promote to the conservation efforts for the sustainability of the GLNP.

CDOC – MoU Signing:

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The CDOC aims to:

• Increase both ecotourism guide and local community capacity to develop ecotourism through IT media.
• Be the local hub for IT training activities and online publications for GLNP community groups around Bukit Lawang and Tangkahan.
• Be a conservation information centre together with the community groups to promote awareness of the importance of GLNP, conservation and ecoutourism.

Each CDOC is an environmental and information technology learning facility for locals, and visitors alike, to engage in local conservation issues and promote awareness. Facilities and services include:

• Free computer, Internet training and ongoing support to the local community and Eco Tourism Guides.
• Donation based Internet services for visitors.
• Community Library and information resources.
• A Mobile Awareness Unit Library with Internet facilities, which will travel to some villages bordering the GLNP area.
• Website support for local Institute.

Please feel free to contact and meet our CDOC staff in Bukit Lawang and Tangkahan if you need to obtain our CDOC services.

CDOC – Tangkahan:

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CDOC – Bukit Lawang:

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Creating a sense of pride in the area of Gunung Leuser National Park as local wealth and heritage of the world is an important aspect to form a local support. How to build the involvement of all parties especially the local communities to jointly contribute to protecting and preserving the area of TNGL is a must and pride is what underlies the birth of awareness of the importance of protecting and maintaining the area Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL) as a buffer system of human life.

Pride Campaign is an effort to create such pride in building support for the interests of all parties and a conservation constituency for the area of Gunung Leuser National Park which is an important habitat for many important species such as Sumatran orangutans, elephants, tigers and other protected species. Pride campaign conducted by Yayasan Orangutan Sumatran Lestari- Orangutan Information Center (YOSL-OIC) with support from the RARE and in cooperation with the Gunung Leuser National Park Central Office (BBTNGL).

Starting from the meeting of stakeholders in the Besitang region of Gunung Leuser National Park, which was held in February 2009 and attended by all components, from the Central Office of TNGL, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO’s), district governance, village governance, community leaders, representatives of community groups (KSM ), has produced a systematic mapping problem. There are six threats that affect the sustainability of the TNGL forest area currently and in the future. Departure from the six issues, the threat of encroachment is a threat and issues that will try to answer by all components through Proud Campaign (Pride Campaign).

Theory of Change (TOC)

teori-perubahan-kampanye-bangga-rare-pride-campaign

The theory of change is the tools used to plan, develop the capacity, evaluate, and analyze campaign results. Descriptive help understand the changes (social or environmental) is expected to occur and strategies to encourage these changes. In short the theory of change developed in this proud campaign is: To reduce encroachment of forest areas and forest areas to maintain the Gunung Leuser National Park Region VI SPTN Besitang in the eastern part of Gunung Leuser National Park, a UNESCO assessment as World Heritage Site and one habitat important for Sumatran Orangutan, agro forestry systems are less expensive and will be introduced permanently. Local farmers will be informed about the importance of a home TNGL last for primate species that are threatened with extinction, the benefits of environmental services and benefits of adopting TNGL agro forestry systems. This new technique will offer higher incomes and more sustainable for them and at the same time maintaining They also will be introduced to the concept of agro forestry systems, receive training and technical assistance to use the techniques and ultimately adopt and practice new techniques. System of alternative livelihoods will also be introduced. During the first year of an expected 30% adoption of techniques by the local farming community village one target of the 4 target villages. Pride Campaign in Besitang forest areas will see success if encroachment is reduced and the population of Sumatran orangutans survive “.

Strategies to reduce the threat of conservation (Barrier Removal)

To make a change will require an alternative for people not to engage in clearing activities will be the future. Poly-culture agro forestry pattern recognition will be introduced through the development of agro forestry as a demplot place for farmer groups to learn about the implementation and benefits of agro forestry. Strategy is expected to provide benefits to the community in order to optimize the function and use of their land beyond the Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL) forest. With increasing technical knowledge to apply agro forestry and community know the benefits, is expected to reduce the need for agricultural land/plantation, and the pressure and the threat of TNGL forest clearance will be reduced in the future.

Mobilize the community audiences with Social Marketing Approach.

Pride Campaign in communities around Gunung Leuser National Park (TNGL) Besitang region will be implemented with the social marketing approach. Creating a sense of pride and build a conservation constituency not only provides information to the people, because knowledge alone will not be enough to make social change. In this social marketing practice can act to influence the target groups to voluntarily accept, reject, shed or change an attitude and behavior for the progress of individuals, groups and entire communities. Of course, social marketing can play an important role for analyzing the behavior based on values that apply, selecting target groups and behaviors that need to be changed and “sell” the idea of change to support and become an important part of rain forest conservation of Gunung Leuser National Park in Besitang region, North Sumatra in particular.

Increasing public knowledge, building support for a positive attitude, and participation of all community, governments, conservation organizations, both nodes of local groups will be given a new face in the conservation of Gunung Leuser National Park in Beistang region. For the Pride Campaign is designed as an attempt to build unity and enhance the strength of local support, raise the participation of all components to give the best of each potential in each group. And in the end all of the elements can tell “One Heart to Protect Leuser”.

Statement of Need

There is an urgent need for conservation action in order to retain viable wild populations of orangutans. Once widespread throughout the forests of Southeast Asia, they are now confined to two islands in Indonesia and Malaysia, where two genetically distinct species exist: the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) and the Bornean orangutan (P. pygmaeus). Between 1950-2000, 40% of Indonesia’s forests were cleared, reducing ground cover to 98 million hectares (FWI/GFW, 2002). Forest cover in Sumatra was reduced by 61% from 1985-1997 due to logging, infrastructure development, internal migration, and plantation development (McConkey, 2005), and there are now less than 900,000 hectares of orangutan habitat left standing on the island, restricted to the northernmost provinces of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and North Sumatra (Singleton et al., 2004). Habitat loss has not been restricted to private land, as vast tracts of the Gunung Leuser National Park, part of the UNESCO “Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra” World Heritage Site, which is also located within the Leuser Ecosystem (considered the last stronghold of the Sumatran orangutan), have also been degraded or converted and lost to plantation agriculture. Populations have declined from an estimated 12,770 in 1994, to an estimated 6,624 in 2008, with the downward trend continuing to this day (Singleton et al., 2004; Wich et al., 2008). Thus the Sumatran orangutan is now classified as Critically Endangered and listed as one of the top 25 most endangered primates in the world (IUCN, 2008).

Introduction

Experts in the field of orangutan conservation agree that the conversion of high conservation value forests to monoculture oil palm plantations is now the most urgent threat to the orangutans’ continued existence in the wild (Buckland, 2005; Nellemann et al., 2007). As land is cleared for development, this can cause wildlife, including orangutans, to be forced into sparse forest fragments with poor resource availability and low carrying capacity (Nellemann et al, 2007), and/or crossing through or becoming isolated on lands developed by humans, which can result in crop-raiding or unintentional crop damage. Perceived as a threat to both the community and profits, these endangered and protected species, flagships for the conservation of rainforests, are considered as pests and are killed or captured and sold into the pet trade (Brown and Jacobson, 2005; Nijman, 2005; Shepherd et al., 2005).

Thus it was the goal of the Orangutan Information Centre (OIC) to initiate the Plantation Roadshows Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation Programme to enhance the engagement of local communities in conservation activities in orangutan habitat areas and stimulate community-led solutions to human-orangutan conflict issues. The acceleration of further plantation development has dramatically increased incidents of direct conflict between humans and orangutans (Yuwono et al, 2007, Husson et al, 2002), resulting in substantial economic losses in areas bordering protected areas (Hill 1997, Naughton-Treves et al, 1998). However the assumption often made by farmers: that orangutans enter plantations in order to raid crops for food, is a misconception, as in actuality it is more likely that due to decreased habitat availability the animals are often obliged to cross through these lands to move between isolated forest fragments.

Executive Summary

The roadshow programme took place in 18 villages adjacent to orangutan habitat located in the Langkat and Pak-Pak Barat districts of the North Sumatra province of the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. This involved a series of screenings of targeted conservation films focusing on the orangutan and the destruction of its habitat, with the screening and distribution of a specialised conflict mitigation training film for orangutan encounters in plantations. Active and passive techniques to mitigate conflict were also introduced and demonstrated, so that local people better understand the issues and are able to implement the techniques which are safe for both orangutans and people. The roadshow was also accompanied by interactive focus group discussions, the collection of data regarding local communities’ attitudes towards conservation and their environment through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, and complementary outreach activities such as educational exhibitions.

In total 1,694 people participated in the programme, with over 2,500 reached through general education and awareness efforts and materials distributed. It is apparent that those involved in the training were better prepared to coexist with their animal neighbours, through an improved perception of orangutans and also an increased ability to deal with any problems in a humane, nonlethal manner. Also through the more generalized environmental educational aspect of the initiative, they gained better knowledge and awareness about the importance of protecting orangutans and their forest homes.

Read full report by downloading the Oil-Palm Plantation Roadshows Performance Report Final in PDF Version.

However, previous to this programme there was very little educational value to the Bukit Lawang (BL) experience, with tourist guides not holding much information themselves on the orangutans and their forest homes. Thus the OIC has initiated a series of training sessions that serve to disseminate and instill effective and ethical interpretive guiding to members of HPI, the local guide association, which administers operating licenses for both Bukit Lawang and the Tangkahan area (a nearby site which also borders the Gunung Leuser National Park, most well-known for hosting an ex-captive Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatrensis) population used in forest trekking and tourism, as well as Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) rangers, whom all visitors both foreign and domestic must have accompany them in order to enter the forest.

The training programme itself consists of four modules, covering various issues including:

1. 1. Ecotourism;
2. 2. Conservation Education Training;
3. 3. Search and Rescue / First Aid;
4. 4. Publication and Documentation.

This, along with subsequent improved enforcement of national park guidelines will help ensure the health and safety of the orangutans and other wildlife in the park (as well as the visitors themselves), whilst adding to local community knowledge through the capacity building nature of the training. Thereafter they will be better able to serve the tourism industry, resulting in visitors becoming more informed themselves on the orangutan conservation situation, as well as that of rainforests in general.

Without these crucial factors of maintaining responsible visitor/guide behaviour in the forest, as well as imparting education onto those visitors, the site loses any resemblance to an ecotourism destination and instead becomes a wildlife tourism centred operation. Such tourism is not sustainable for wildlife, the GLNP, nor the local community and their livelihoods; thus it is paramount that programmes such as this take place and the region brought up to standard with other great ape ecotourism sites.

For complete information about Gunung Leuser Ecotourism Development Programme: Progress Report 1, please download the report on PDF file.

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:

1. Kami Kelompok Tani Pelindung Leuser, menentang dan mengecam segala bentuk kegiatan yang dapat mengancam dan merusak kawasan ekosistem taman nasional gunung leuser.
2. Kami Kelompok Tani Pelindung Leuser, adalah petani-petani yang peduli, siap melindungi dan menjaga kawasan ekosistem taman nasional gunung leuser agar tetap lestari
3. 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.