Indonesia

Many unsustainable and environmentally insensitive infrastructure projects have been introduced to Aceh during the post-tsunami reconstruction. In Ulu Masen forest there is an urgent need for detailed information on tiger density for the design of a critical wildlife corridor in a location that has been earmarked for road construction. This initiative aims to assess the conservation status of tigers within a priority Ulu Masen corridor through camera trapping.

The conversion of elephant habitat to agriculture in Sumatra has led to increased levels of human-elephant conflict, especially in the form of crop-raiding. To help mitigate this conflict, FFI is establishing Conservation Response Units (CRU) in Aceh Province. CRUs use once neglected captive elephants and their mahouts for direct field-based conservation interventions. This project aims to support the conservation of wild elephants and their habitat while creating job opportunities and conflict mitigation solutions for local communities, achieving positive outcomes for both elephants and people.

Recent surveys indicate there are more than 700 wild Sumatran tigers, more than a third of which are found in Kerinci Seblat National Park, a World Heritage Site. FFI works with the park authorities and local communities to strengthen protection through forest patrols and undercover illegal operations to combat trafficking of tigers and tiger parts. These efforts have led to the successful prosecution of dozens of poachers.  Our team also conducts human-wildlife conflict mitigation, responds to wildlife emergencies and works to secure key tiger habitat outside the park. There is growing evidence that tiger populations have stabilised in and around the park.

FFI helped to form the AKAR network of local NGOs in four provinces around Kerinci Seblat National Park. We provide technical advice and support to their campaigning and other activities through an NGO mentor. Our partners have developed community forest protection patrols, successfully defeated plans for conversion of forest to pulp timber and palm plantations and the construction of roads through the Park. We are now helping our partners to develop plans for community-managed and protected forests in key areas bordering the Park and providing training in forest management and Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD).

FFI has a comprehensive programme to conserve Sumatran elephants and their habitat around Gunung Leuser National Park in northern Sumatra through Conservation Response Units (CRU). CRUs provide a strong link between in-situ and ex-situ elephant conservation by employing captive elephants and their mahouts to patrol and protect important elephant habitat.  The programme creates opportunities for local communities to participate and benefit from conservation initiatives and helps to reduce the impact of human-elephant conflict. The CRU teams also raise awareness among local people of the importance of conserving elephants and their habitat and help improve community livelihoods.

FFI is helping local governments and communities in and around Gunung Palung and Danau Sentarum National Parks to protect orang-utans and their habitat. We are training patrol units which specialise in orang-utans but which also have an all encompassing responsibility for habitat protection. We place a high priority on combating illegal logging and poaching, which directly threaten orang-utans, through preventative action, policy engagement, and awareness raising programmes. We also support efforts to better integrate conservation objectives into land use planning.

FFI has signed a landmark agreement with resource company BHP Billiton to provide a platform for sustainable land use planning in the Murung Raya district of Central Kalimantan. This two-year partnership will contribute to the preservation of threatened orang-utan habitat and populations.  In addition, we will assess the viability of reintroducing orang-utans to the area, raise community awareness, support land use planning processes and provide training for local conservation leaders.

The Angke-Kapuk and Muara Angke wetlands in Jakarta used to play an important role in flood mitigation as well as biodiversity conservation but have been extremely degraded by development and waste. FFI works with local grass roots group Jakarta Green Monster to reduce pollution in the Muara Angke Wildlife Sanctuary. Together we have established a wetland education centre and encourage community interest in the wetland through school visits and media campaigns. The project also aims to benefit people from local slums through the sale of compost from communal waste management and the provision of services to wetland visitors.

This initiative aims to prevent destruction of the threatened and highly carbon-rich Ulu Masen forest in Aceh Province, Indonesia, by generating tradable carbon credits and directing a proportion of the profits to local communities. In February 2008, the project became the first REDD project to be approved by the Climate, Community and Biodiversity Standards.

FFI is using our community and conservation expertise to advise the Governor of Aceh in both the design and implementation of the project on the ground.

FFI is providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Forestry to support their nationwide programme to designate 460,000 hectares of ‘village forests’ in West Kalimantan province under community tenure by 2013. We are implementing a community forestry REDD pilot project in West Kalimantan which aims to support the designation of up to 100,000 hectares of designated village forests. Our programme focuses on peat swamp forest as well as lowland rainforests, both critical habitat for orang-utans and other endangered species. Peat fires and drainage are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Indonesia.

The pilot activities will develop valuable lessons for community-based peat swamp forest management and provide input to a dialogue with local land use planning agencies and the National Planning Agency for the development of a national REDD policy for peat lands.

Aceh’s marine ecosystems were heavily damaged by the 2004 tsunami. So too were the communities’ fishing fleets. This meant local communities lost their ability to earn income from both fishing and tourism. FFI is helping to rebuild livelihoods by empowering poor families to re-establish sustainable small tourism-related businesses while protecting coastal ecosystems.

Reconstruction after the devastating tsunami has led to an unprecedented demand for Aceh’s natural resources, especially timber. FFI created this programme to help government and civil society partners to safeguard the Ulu Masen and Leuser forests, which cover a combined three million hectares and provide vital ecosystem services.

We support a wide range of activities including  building the capacity of government forest protection agencies to tackle illegal logging and creating community forest ranger teams out of ex-combatants, ex-illegal loggers and ex-wildlife poachers. We are also involved in an innovative Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) initiative.