WWF - News from the Heart of Borneo

The social nature of forest resources: Community Mapping for more effective and equitable management in the Kayan Mentarang National Park

2013-06-14

By Cristina Eghenter

In Kayan Mentarang National Park, participatory community mapping played a significant role in the planning and development of the park itself. Mapping was instrumental in proving that a community-based management of the conservation area was a necessity and a right. Moreover, it proved important in recommending the change of status from nature reserve to national park, and a well-suited methodology to plan for the collaborative management of the park. Not surprisingly, participatory community mapping gained the highest score among field activities by community respondents in a satisfaction survey conducted by WWF in 2005.

WWF-Indonesia's new book, Communities and Conservation: 50 Inspiring Stories from WWF to Indonesia, is a celebration of WWF-Indonesia's 50-year long journey as a conservation organization.

Emerging strongly from that long journey and all the stories in the book is the lesson that communities are on the front line of conservation and need to be key partners in conservation. Conservation is a key factor in sustainable development, and indigenous and local peoples need to be made part of the process as key partners and beneficiaries.

Eighteen of the fifty stories are from the Heart of Borneo, but all the stories show the effectiveness of conservation when indigenous peoples, their knowledge and practices, are involved in the decision making process. This is also well illustrated by the following story on Participatory Community Mapping in the Kayan Mentarang National Park, East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Map is a powerful tool, with visual force, to expose the power and social relations embedded in the utilization and management of natural resource. Therefore maps are often used for advocacy. With its visual force, map is able to show direct and clear ways the domains of management, use and ownership as practiced by the communities, and their dependence on those resources. It makes evident what is often hidden and misunderstood: the knowledge of the land and it resources, and traditional management practices of local and indigenous communities.

Community Mapping in Kayan Mentarang National Park started in 1992 with a trial exercise and experiment in the village of Long Uli, on the Bahau River. The development of the complete methodology and systematic approach took place in 1994-1996. Key dimensions of the exercise regard indigenous ways to organize and use space and patterns of land use; field transects and resource maps to assess the existence and abundance of those resources; and customary regulations on how land and resources are used and managed. During community mapping, the social history of the village or community is also reconstructed as well and boundaries of the customary land and with other villages. The entire process is conducted through the perspectives of men, women, and the youth.

Geographically and socially, the Kayan Mentarang National Park overlaps with eleven customary lands of Dayak Kenyah, Kayan, Lundayeh, Sa'ban, Punan, Tahol, and other sub-ethnic groups. For the most part, they are rice farmers (both dry agriculture and wet agriculture), they collect and trade non-timber forest product (NTFP) over the centuries such as resin, rattan, gaharu and others, they also fish and hunt. While the mapping was conducted in all the villages, the results of each village in one customary land were compiled into a customary land map. The latter was defined as the most significant social unit for framing the mapping process and recognition of the rights of the Indigenous Peoples. In this respect, it can be said that participatory mapping in and around the Kayan Mentarang National Park was in fact a 'customary land' mapping.

Between 1996 and 1998, the eleven customary lands were mapped by the indigenous people themselves. WWF facilitated, trained and assisted in the process, but communities (men, women, and the youth) were the main actors as well as the main beneficiaries the mapping process.

With the capacity to transmit information that can be read easily by outsiders, map becomes an important tool in discussions and negotiations with the government and private sector. Among communities themselves, maps represent a basis for resolving local boundary and other disputes.

Mapping is an important tool to help ensure that any planning process and change of conservation status or any other management decision are conducted in more participatory ways and in line with the FPIC (free and prior informed consent) principle. Mapping in Kayan Mentarang has recognized and advocated indigenous peoples' rights in park management, this includede agreement on the external boundary of the conservation area; village and farming land enclaves the villages within from the park; adoption of customary regulations and practices for the management of the park and zonation system.

Mapping is not a static tool. It is helpful to monitor the trends and changes that happen in the field and prepare development plans that take into account the environment while respecting the wisdom and aspirations of the communities. Moreover, the fact that local people themselves can master mapping techniques does increase their ability to control, manage, and monitor the information contained in the maps to prevent misuse of natural resources and manage sustainably their lands.

The dream of a rainforest transfrontier reserve in the Heart of Borneo: cross-border expedition Betung Kerihun-Batang Ai/Lanjak Entimau

2013-05-24

(by Albertus Tjiu, M. Hermayani Putera and Syahirsyah)

In 1994, a transboundary conservation area of almost one million hectares was established on the island of Borneo. Covering important tropical forest habitat, this area is the last remaining natural forest in an area that has been greatly altered; much of it has been converted into timber concessions and oil palm plantations. Vital for the future of biodiversity on the island, the area includes two conservation areas in Sarawak, Malaysia; Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary (LEWS) and Batang Ai National Park (BANP), and Betung Kerihun National Park (BKNP) in West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

WWF-Indonesia's new book, Communities and Conservation: 50 Inspiring Stories from WWF to Indonesia, is a celebration of WWF-Indonesia's 50-year journey as a conservation organisation. Eighteen of the fifty stories featured in the book are from the Heart of Borneo and all the stories show the effectiveness of conservation when indigenous peoples, their knowledge and practices, are involved in decision-making processes. This is also reflected by the following story on the cross-border expedition organised in collaboration between Indonesia and Malaysia, long before Heart of Borneo Initiative was born in mid 2000.

Indonesia and Malaysia cooperating on a transboundary reserve

In 1973, the Indonesia and Malaysia governments jointly recognised the conservation values of the Betung Kerihun and Lanjak Entimau reserves. Integral to Borneo's central ecological corridor, these areas cover parts of West Kalimantan (Betung Kerihun) and Sarawak (Batang Ai/Lanjak Entimau). They share many traits including the beauty of the landscape, important watersheds, cultural traditions, and endemic flora and fauna.

Following this, in 1993, the Committee on Forestry between the governments of Indonesia and Malaysia agreed to pursue "Joint Cooperation in Developing a Transfrontier Reserve". Supported by The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), this cooperation further reflected the importance of transboundary biodiversity conservation as well as joint protected area management between Indonesia and Malaysia.

A year later, the Indonesian government designated Betung Kerihun Nature Reserve as a National Park. With a management plan the next step required to achieve the vision and mission of Betung Kerihun National Park (BKNP), the Indonesia Ministry of Forestry (Agency of Forest Protection and Environmental Conservation/PHKA), together with the Indonesia Institute of Science (LIPI) and WWF-Indonesia, collaborated to develop a 25-year management plan. To develop the plan, valuable information on the social, natural and cultural conditions of the area was necessary leading to many research activities undertaken during 1996-1999 including a "Cross-border expedition Indonesia-Malaysia" field trip. The trip involved researchers, international and local experts, National Park staff, NGOs and local communities.

Cross-border expedition Indonesia-Malaysia

The first stage of the expedition took place over September 1997 and focused on the Embaloh watershed in Kapuas Hulu District, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. In November 1997, a second stage of the expedition was in Sarawak, specifically Miri, Nanga Bloh.

The expedition delivered valuable data on forest types, botany, medicinal plants, primates, fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians and socio-economic aspects on forest communities. A number of commonalities between the two conservation areas were discovered including landscape, plants and animals, ways of living and cultural backgrounds and beliefs, specifically those relating to nature. These findings made it even more important to manage the area as one transboundary conservation area.

An example; in the Betung Kerihun area, the team identified 900 samples of palms and orchids, around 29 families and 157 species of birds, and at least 86 species of fish. Researchers identified five forest types: lowland dipterocarp forest, hill dipterocarp forest, sub-montane forest, montane and summit ridge habitats. Primates found included Presbytis frontata, P. rubicunda and Hylobates muelleri, orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus), and macaques species (Macaca nemestrina and M. fascicularis). The expedition also revealed around 200 varieties or species of plants useful to the local Iban and Tamambaloh people.

The expedition discovered an appalling amount of data on ecology and botany and collected many specimens including new records, rare and new species. In Betung Kerihun, at least three new species found, wild banana (Musa lawitiensis),palm (Pinanga bifidovariegata) and a fish named after one river in the park, Embaloh River, species of ray-finned fish Gastromyzon embalohensis. The whole findings are recorded in "Scientific Report - ITTO Borneo Biodiversity Expedition (1997)", published in 1999.

However, due to the limitation and field constraints, the expedition in the Betung Kerihun NP was not fully covered the whole area of the park. The expedition recommended further biodiversity surveys to reveal more of the undiscovered treasure of Betung Kerihun's natural richness.

Community involvement in the expedition

One of the toughest challenges for participants during the expedition was the weather conditions. In 1997, the El Nino phenomenon had caused very dry weather in Borneo with burning and deforestation activities in many parts of the island bringing thick, poisoned air and smoke that covered the whole of Kalimantan.

Such conditions meant that the expedition was very nearly postponed; the team in charge of logistics had a difficult time ensuring they could support and provide transportation to the researchers in the field. The original plan to use helicopters to distribute supplies via the hill of Bukit Condong (997 metres) failed as visibility had dropped to a mere 3 metres which was too dangerous. Strong determination and unflagging support from the local communities made it possible to carry all equipment and supplies by hand to Bukit Condong so that the expedition could be completed.

Anthropologists and socio-economists formed part of the expedition, studying income-earning strategies and social structures of local communities. For example, for local people in Danau Sentarum, a nearby conservation area where much of the community earns a living from fishing, the conservation of forests in Betung Kerihun, which is within the same watershed, is an important way to sustain their fishing activities.

The study also revealed that perception of local people towards forest conservation is reflected in the conservation of the natural forests surrounding their settlement areas, areas they call kampung galao (in Iban) or toan palalo (in Tamambaloh).

Community involvement in conservation area management

Securing the support and participation of local communities in park management is important because local people use these areas and are highly dependent on them for their livelihoods. Additionally, conservation budgets are limited and park ranger resources are spread thinly. The local wisdom of these communities helps to create a sense of belonging, promoting friendly relationships and enhancing cooperation. To ensure effective participation, governments conduct education and awareness programs to enhance local communities' knowledge about joint protected area management and biodiversity conservation.

Developing joint social and economic activities between local communities in BKNP, LEWS and BANP is feasible as they share many common values in terms of culture, traditions and ways of life. Shared benefits can be delivered through combined ecotourism activities and by joint community-related projects which can provide options for alternative income.

This program is also having an impact beyond the immediate conservation area. Some members of surrounding communities have requested that forests under their customary rights be maintained under the new conservation status and included in future extensions of the protected areas.

In 1998, a provincial workshop held in Pontianak recommended the change of previous name of the conservation area, from Bentuang Karimun to Betung Kerihun. This proposal was based on information from community that the park lies in between two mountains, that were wrongly spelled previously, Mt. Betung on the west side and Mt. Kerihun on the east side.

Lasting impacts of the cross-border expedition

The expedition was a new milestone in cross border cooperation between Sarawak and West Kalimantan, it was also a stepping stone in international forestry cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia. Many publications, reports and popular media, including the International Borneo Biodiversity Expedition (IBBE) ITTO, covered the expedition and its findings with the results having an impact on the worldview and understanding of many stakeholders in the culturally and naturally rich Heart of Borneo.

After the expedition and management plan were produced in 2001, the Indonesia Ministry of Forestry, ITTO and WWF signed a MoU to begin the second phase of the project "The Implementation of Community-based Transboundary Management Plan for the BKNP Phase II". This phase focused on the integration of community-based conservation as well as a longer term plan for the BKNP, including the development of an effective management system in the cross border conservation area.

These cross-border activities will continue to be an important part of biodiversity conservation on the island of Borneo.

Indonesia-Malaysia joint conservation action timeline

1973    the Indonesia and Malaysia governments jointly recognised the conservation values of the Betung Kerihun and Lanjak Entimau reserves
1994    a transboundary conservation area of almost one million hectares was established on the island of Borneo
1993    the Committee on Forestry between the governments of Indonesia and Malaysia agreed to pursue "Joint Cooperation in Developing a Transfrontier Reserve"
1997    September - first stage of "Cross-border expedition Indonesia-Malaysia" focusing on the Embaloh watershed river basin in Indonesia
1997    November - second stage of "Cross-border expedition Indonesia-Malaysia" in Sarawak, specifically Miri, Nanga Bloh
2001    Indonesia Ministry of Forestry, ITTO and WWF signed a MoU to begin the second phase of "The Implementation of Community-based Transboundary Management Plan for the BKNP Phase II"
2003    Head of the district declared Kapuas Hulu the first Conservation District in Indonesia
2004    Indonesia and Malaysia formally submitted a proposal to UNESCO to designate the 3 conservation areas as the first ever transboundary World Heritage Site
2007    Heart of Borneo Three Countries Declaration, signed on 12th February 2007

Making a difference: Research as an advocacy tool in the Kayan Mentarang conservation area

2013-05-02

Fifty stories celebrating WWF-Indonesia's fifty years of working with communities in conservation....

WWF-Indonesia's new book, Communities and Conservation: 50 Inspiring Stories from WWF to Indonesia, is a celebration of WWF-Indonesia's 50-year long journey as a conservation organization.

Emerging strongly from that long journey and all the stories in the book is the lesson that communities are on the front line of conservation and need to be key partners in conservation. Conservation is a key factor in sustainable development, and indigenous and local peoples need to be made part of the process as key partners and beneficiaries.

Eighteen of the fifty stories are from the Heart of Borneo, but all the stories show the effectiveness of conservation when indigenous peoples, their knowledge and practices, are involved in the decision making process. This is also well illustrated by the following story on the Kayan Mentarang conservation area, which in 2002, became the first national park in Indonesia to implement community-based collaborative management.

Making a difference: Research as an advocacy tool in the Kayan Mentarang conservation area

Research has often been regarded as a rather expensive and intellectual endeavor, with often little concrete benefits for those 'studied'. This was not the case however in the Kayan Mentarang National Park area in the Heart of Borneo where research contributed to a key policy change in favor of a stronger role of local communities in conservation management. The results of the research program, "Culture and Conservation' became a decisive factor in support of the change of status of the Kayan Mentarang conservation area from strict Nature Reserve to National Park in 1996.

The Kayan Mentarang conservation area, in the far interior of East Kalimantan, is the largest protected area of rainforest in Borneo and one of the largest in Southeast Asia. The area is considered to be one of the world's ten biodiversity hotspots, with disproportionately high levels of species diversity in a relatively small area. However, what is unique and special about the Kayan Mentarang area is the history of the natural landscape that is deeply intertwined with the history of its people. Extensive archaeological remains in the area are witness to a long history of human settlement.

Nowadays, about 21,000 Dayak people live in or near the conservation area, depending on swidden agriculture, wet rice farming, hunting, fishing, collecting and trading of forest products to fulfill their subsistence and other needs.

The C&C research program

A research program that lasted seven years in the interior of Indonesian Borneo, from 1991 to 1997, Culture and Conservation (C&C) was born of the collaboration between the Ford Foundation and WWF-Indonesia in order to: "document and support traditional rights of tenure and local resource management ... and contribute to the cultural history and the forest ecology of the region."

The program based its methodological approach on social science research, Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques, and the fieldwork experience of the anthropological tradition.

Over thirty researchers including experts and students from Kalimantan, Indonesia and international researchers shared their expertise, skills and disciplinary knowledge to produce a multi-perspective and comprehensive study of both present and past patterns of resource use and people-forest interactions in changing social, economic, and environmental circumstances of the interior of Borneo over time.

The historical contextualization was expected to shed light on circumstances and events that might have important impact on future decisions for the management of the conservation area and the social and economic development of the surrounding region. It was also under this program that the first experiments with community maps took place, which later developed into the community mapping program, an innovative and successful approach allowing the documentation of local people's knowledge and decisions about land and resource use, as well as their claims to those resources.

It was these conditions that made its status as strict nature reserve (since 1980) as unsuitable, unjust and also potentially unsustainable. The C&C program set out to look at the possibility that the success of nature conservation could be dependent upon the preservation of indigenous cultures and, mostly, the maintenance of traditional practices of land tenure and natural resource management.

The research results first established that the communities in the national park area were still "customary communities" (masyarakat adat), largely regulated by customary law in the conduct of their daily affairs and the management of natural resources. This was an essential point with regard to the long-term management goal of the area and the need to involve local communities in conservation.

The extensive documentation on land tenure systems and regulations for the exploitation of forest resources helped bring the issue of customary rights to the attention of government officials and justified the efforts to seek official recognition for communities' communal claims. The research also showed that the role of traditional institutions, presently reflected in institutions, like the customary council (lembaga adat) and the customary chief (kepala adat), was key to understanding the communities' views of rights and the way they deliberate on issues of forest management as well as social responsibilities.

Several researchers described aspects of what is usually referred to as an "indigenous management system," or the ability of local people to use, alter, regulate, and restore land and other natural resources in their environment. The outcome of their research provided important evidence that local people's agricultural practices are not intrinsically destructive of the environment but rather draw on knowledge and deep understanding of its micro-dynamics. The wide range of forest plants and crop varieties used by local communities also suggests a high degree of biodiversity that has been managed and intentionally maintained for centuries. The research program has shown that only community participation and inclusion can ensure the sustainability of the Kayan Mentarang National Park and help reduce land encroachment by companies and outsiders.

The overall outcome of the research program represented a powerful rationale for the government to designate Kayan Mentarang National Park as the first national park in Indonesia to implement community-based collaborative management in 2002. It was also a strong recognition of the role of customary communities and practices in the sustainable and equitable management of natural resources for conservation and the wellbeing of local right holders. (By Cristina Eghenter)

View from Canopy - HoB Newsletter April 2013 issue

2013-04-19

'View from the canopy' does not feel like such an appropriate title for this month's update. Whilst my last missive gazed ambitiously over the treetops of the potential future of the Heart of Borneo, this month finds me far below the canopy, tangled in the roots of complexity involved in implementing such a challenging project!

This is not to say it is any less fun, nor that significant progress is not being made. March in particular was an important month, with the annual shareholder meeting helping shape the foundations of the next strategic plan. The final plan is not due to be ready until July, but a skeleton structure is already starting to take shape, with social issues set to take a more prominent role in the future. These were seen by many to be an essential complement to the continued focus on government and private sector.

As I see it, the Heart of Borneo vision is the equivalent to a commitment to build a futuristic 'eco-house'. WWF wants to see this happen in the best way possible, and to do so we need to work with the architects that design it (government policies) and the contractors that interpret the plans to build it (the private sector). But these activities could be pointless if we do not also engage with the people that will ultimately live in it and own it (the HoB communities).

The future strategy will not only feature changes in conservation emphasis, it will also need to recognize a shift in the role WWF plays. The Heart of Borneo is now a clearly government-led initiative. WWF helped get the ball rolling, it now needs to find the best way it can facilitate the process into the future. With this in mind I have spent much of my recent time with the government agencies that lead the Heart of Borneo. In particular I have spent a significant amount of time in Brunei, partly in response to their request for WWF assistance in preparing for the trilateral meeting they will be hosting later this year. During this time I have learned what an important part of the HoB vision Brunei might represent.

Geographically speaking, Brunei plays a relatively minor role, with less than 2% of the Heart of Borneo within Brunei territory. However, Brunei has a potential value to the Heart of Borneo disproportionate to its size. To begin with, the forests that Brunei does have are some of the most important in Borneo. Thanks to rich oil reserves, which account for 98% of national revenue, Brunei's forests have remained largely untouched by the economic forces that have dominated elsewhere. Brunei is now one of the only places in the world where you can drive on a tarmac road right into the middle of primary rainforest within a couple of hours from the capital city and recent expedition data suggest that some of these forests are among the most bio-diverse in the world. The importance of these forests has been quickly recognised by the Sultan and his government who play an active role in the trilateral agreement and have designated over half the country as 'Heart of Borneo' - a brand now known across the nation.

But Brunei's potential contribution to the Heart of Borneo vision could be even more significant. Some may argue Brunei's near-unique economic status means what happens in Brunei has little relevance for how to conserve the rest of Borneo's forests. I would argue the opposite. One of the underlying problems for conservation is the difficulty of capturing the value of the environment in decision making. An Indonesian bupati faces a very difficult decision when forced to choose between forest and oil palm. A plantation can offer clear and immediate benefits through employment, tax revenue and infrastructure. A forest might have a higher value in theory, through the ecosystem services it generates, but in practice it is hard to realize these values in immediate, tangible forms. The bupati is under pressure to make quick decisions and to provide clear benefits to his electorate – often the plantation is the only rational choice he can make in the circumstances. Brunei does not have such pressures. Brunei has the freedom to 'experiment' with its forests, to work out how to capture the value of the water that flows from them, the carbon they sequester, the genetic resources they contain. Some ideas will fail. But the ones that succeed could represent the models for the rest of the Heart of Borneo to follow. If Brunei can demonstrate how a forest can generate benefits on a sustainable basis, future bupatis on the other side of the Heart of Borneo might finally have a genuine alternative to consider.

I cannot write about Brunei without also writing about Dato' Dr Mike Kavanagh, who this month ended his role as WWF's primary representative in Brunei. Mike has not only been instrumental in helping Brunei develop its impressive Heart of Borneo programme, from helping write the Bruneian action plan to helping establish their first ever Wildlife Division, but he was also one of the original visionaries who got the trilateral Heart of Borneo concept off the ground in the first place. During our handover I witnessed the huge affection and esteem in which he was held in Brunei as dignitary after dignitary, thanked him for his work and expressed their hopes he would return soon. The hole he will leave behind will certainly be a challenge for me to fill and I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to him for all the work he has done.

HoB's Malua Biobank short listed for International Environmental award

2013-04-19

Malua Biobank, the innovative financial model for large-scale rainforest conservation in Sabah's Malua Forest Reserve in the Heart of Borneo, has been select as one of six finalists for the Roy Family Award for Environmental partnership – administered by the John F. Kennedy School at Harvard University.

The Roy Family Award for Environmental Partnership is presented every two years to an outstanding public-private partnership project that enhances environmental quality through the use of novel and creative approaches.

It is a global award with some illustrious former winners including: a German solar rural electrification project in Africa, a global alliance of companies to phase out HFCs and other ozone-depleting refrigerants including Unilever and Coca Cola, and in 2003 the Noel Kempff project in Bolivia which was the first REDD project ever developed.

Malua Biobank covers 34,000 hectare (80,000 acre) and encompasses the watershed of the Malua River, a tributary of Sabah's longest river, the Kinabatangan. Malua lies within the Heart of Borneo boundary, is supported by WWF Malaysia and is one of the WWF HoB Global Initiative's 'Forest Solutions for a Green Economy'.

The Biobank restores and protects the Malua Forest Reserve and finances this through the sale of voluntary biodiversity conservation certificates. The purchase of biodiversity certificates from the biobank allows end buyers to support forest conservation and a greening of the supply chain, whilst generating commercial returns for the investor.

And the finalists are!

According to the administrators of the Roy Family Award, this year saw no shortage of stellar entrants making the selection of just six finalists, a very difficult task. The finalists are:

• Malua Biobank
• Dow-TNC Partnership on Ecosystem Services
• Canadian Boreal Forest Agreement
• Oro Verde
• Responsible Sourcing Initiative
• Vim Toilet Academy

The finalist selection was based on criteria measuring the partnerships' innovation, effectiveness, significance, and transferability. The nominees were reviewed by the Harvard Faculty of environmental policy and the finalists will be peer reviewed by partnership experts from around the world. These reviews and background materials will be submitted to the selection committee for a final decision, with the final award presented at the Harvard Kennedy School in the US, later in the year.

The mission of the Roy Family Award is to encourage governments, companies, and organizations worldwide to push the boundaries of creativity and to take risks that result in significant changes that benefit the environment and create leverage for greater action.

Sabah's Banteng – on the road to a silent extinction?

2013-04-19

By Penny Gardner (#)

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species, Banteng (or wild cattle) are the second most endangered large mammal in Sabah, with as little as 300 individuals remaining.

These individuals are scattered across Sabah in isolated and remote forest, and in private land adjacent to forest, where they are difficult to protect. A combination of pressures including past habitat loss and on-going hunting threaten the species with complete extinction, which if it occurs, is likely to transpire 'silently' - without recognition from the general public and without the much-needed support compared to that given to high profile species such as Orang-utan.

Late last year however, support was forthcoming, with Malaysian palm oil company, Yayasan Sime Darby, awarding funding for a new three year research project to Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) supported by Cardiff University and the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) under an existing Bornean Banteng Programme (BBP). The aim of which is to locate all the remnant banteng populations across Sabah, estimate their population size and assess their current status. The BBP is planning to commence field work in a number of locations, using camera trap surveys to capture evidence of banteng presence. As part of this project, a local Malaysian student will be trained to MSc level and will conduct a research project focusing on a chosen aspect of banteng ecology.

Short history of banteng research

The first project on banteng was only initiated in 2011 with the BBP, which stemmed from collaboration between DGFC and SWD, in alliance with the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD), Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, New Forests Asia, and local Sabah NGO, HUTAN. Since that time, remote infrared camera trap technology has been used to locate, capture images and identify over thirty-five banteng in Tabin Wildlife Reserve (TWR) and thirty in Malua BioBank, in the Heart of Borneo.

In Malua BioBank, one specific herd has been monitored since April 2011 and, with the addition of historical camera trap photographs from other researchers, we have been able to document its breeding activity and growth progression of individuals from birth. The recognition of individuals has allowed us to monitor herd sizes and herd composition, and recognise the types of behaviour that occur when banteng congregate in large numbers. Such data can be used by forest managers to monitor the survival of individuals and assess the effectiveness or impact of management techniques such as harvesting.

Other work includes the deployment of camera traps and sign surveys to collect demographic data on banteng in two different habitat types in order to assess the success of survey methods and understand how detection of banteng is influenced by environmental conditions. There is little reliable research which compares large mammal detection success from a range of survey methods, within a tropical forest environment, however the effectiveness of surveys is very important, particularly if we are to use such information as a basis for planning conservation strategies.

Towards the end of 2012, samples of banteng dung collected during expeditions and routine camera trap inspections in 2011 and 2012 were analysed for DNA. Subsequent application of molecular sex markers proved successful and we were able to identify the sex of the individual from 49 of 55 faecal samples. The concentration of genomic DNA is potentially sufficient for understanding the sex and kinship of various individuals as they disperse from their family herd.

(#) Penny Gardner is a 3rd year PhD student and assistant research project leader with DGFC and the SWD. She is supervised by Dr. Benoit Goossens, Director of DGFC and Prof. Mike Bruford from Cardiff University, and is funded by a scholarship from Houston Zoo. Acknowledgements: We wish to thank our sponsors Houston Zoo (Peter. Riger), Malaysian Palm Oil Council, Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, Yayasan Sime Darby, our collaborators Datuk S. Mannan and the SFD, Malua BioBank and New Forests Asis, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, HUTAN, the Sabah Rhino Project and Torsten Bohm, in addition to Mr. Simon Amos of Rope Skills and all the researchers that have contributed information on banteng in Sabah.

One day in the life of Maija Kaukonen

2013-04-18

She may live all the way over in Finland but Maija Kaukonen is very much connected to the Heart of Borneo.

As a Forest expert with WWF Finland's International Development program, Maija is responsible for coordinating WWF Finland's role in the Muller-Schwaner project, a project Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs has been funding for almost 6 years.

Working closely with WWF Indonesia, Maija tries to visit the project site at least once each year. The distance between the two countries can make things a little difficult: "one challenge is to have enough time amongst my other work to have regular communication with Indonesian colleagues and to do more," Maija says.

But working with such motivated and enthusiastic WWF Indonesia staff makes life easier.

"When I visited the HoB last year, I was amazed how our field officers and colleagues are doing amazing work since it's so difficult to travel around over there, distances are long, you have to use a plane, car, boats and walk to get to the remote villages. Still our colleagues have the motivation and enthusiasm doing this difficult work. I truly respect their effort!"

"It's very rewarding to hear success stories from our Indonesian colleagues and especially the project field officers. The work that our project people are doing together with some forest concession companies close to the HoB borders, mapping orangutan habitats, developing orangutan management plans and implementing FSC-certification is very rewarding!"

Creating a pathway to a green economy in the Heart of Borneo is a key part of the work being conducted on the Muller-Schwaner project.

"It's important to be able to truly implement green economy activities on the ground and show decision makers it's really possible to make things differently. We also want to show these examples in Finland to make people understand that we need different solutions for our planet's future."

"People in Finland are very interested in rainforests and unique species such as orangutans and the Borneo pygmy elephant," Maija says.

"The HoB is a very important area in terms of biodiversity, as a home to indigenous people, for its cultural values and as a water tower of the Borneo Island. As the degradation of our planet's natural places are rapidly accelerating, it's very important to understand the amazing values that the forests and other natural places in the HoB have. They are extremely unique to this planet and people should be very proud of that!"

It's not all work and no play. Last year Maija stayed in a village in the Heart of Borneo area of Central Kalimantan who had arranged a welcoming ceremony and party.

"First we were all covered with lotion and powder while people were singing and dancing and then later on the dancing went on for several hours without any breaks! Although I was exhausted in the end of the day after all the dancing, it was really unique experience!"

Indonesia Sustainable Palm Oil scheme: a mandatory tool to promote sustainable development in the Heart of Borneo (HoB)

2013-04-18

The Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil scheme (ISPO) is set to play a bigger role in the sustainable development of Indonesia's palm oil industry in the HoB, following a recent seminar in Jakarta, organised by the Forestry Division of the Indonesian Ministry of Economic Affairs.

Around 13 government sectors including local government representatives from Kalimantan attended the event, as well as private sector business, farmer and grower association members and NGOs. The seminar canvassed options for speeding up the implementation of the ISPO system – which the government hopes will be up and running by the end of the 2013.

Opening the Seminar, Forestry Head, Musdalifah said the Indonesian government was striving to promote sustainable use of natural resources through sector policy development and the development of mandatory certification schemes such as the ISPO for palm oil and SVLK (Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu - Timber Legality Assurance System), a scheme equivalent to FSC, for timber.

Speaking at the seminar, Dr. Sulmin Gumiri, from Palangka Raya University in Central Kalimantan, said that ISPO could be used as a tool for good governance at the local level. He noted that the establishment of local policy and regulations that enable ISPO implementation could be part of the government's Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Adding that if ISPO was successfully implemented in the HoB as a 'governance KPI', this could encourage other places such as Sumatra or Papua - areas of heavy-oil palm plantation - to replicate the system.

He said local government involvement in ISPO implementation could also be useful in promoting other developments needs, such as provincial spatial planning, zoning on suitable areas for oil palm development, and monitoring the status of plantation company licenses in the HoB area.

Dr Gumiri added that the implementation of ISPO in the HoB area would also be good for Indonesia's international image.

"Successful ISPO implementation in the HoB, an internationally recognized area, would help build a positive reputation for Indonesia," he said.

Implementation problems

Fadhil Hasan, from the Indonesian Palm Oil Association, outlined some common problems with implementation of the certification scheme, particularly in the area of legality and best practice management.

Hasan said unresolved provincial spatial planning issues, especially in East Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan provided ample scope for regulatory disputes. Other problems included lack of capacity to develop a company's conservation or green house gas emission mitigation programs, and the high cost of certification which made it financially very difficult for many small and medium-scale companies and small-holders to pursue.

Dr Gumiri responded by saying that the local government's role was vital in this area. He proposed options such as local regulation to protect smallholders, local government to issue recommendations to Certification Bodies, and regular coordination meetings between government and private sector members to promote best practices and information exchange.

In closing the seminar, Musdalifah concluded that it was a most fruitful workshop, with lively discussion and lots of constructive ideas emerging to assist Indonesia to move forward on the issue of sustainable palm oil. Fruthermore Musdalifah stated, "I believe that the HoB will be a good model upon which to implement ISPO, especially now that the Indonesian government is accelerating ISPO implementation and the HoB is promoting sustainable development within its boundaries."

One Day in the Life of Jabanus Bin Miun, Program Officer, Biodiversity Research Team, Borneo Species Program, WWF Malaysia, Sabah

2013-04-12

I am 33 years old and married with one four-year-old boy and another brand new baby boy. I live and work in Lahad Datu, a larger port town on the Eastern Coast of Sabah. I work with a team of five others on Biodiversity Research, which focuses on a number of important forests within the Heart of Borneo area.

Although the main office is located in town I spend most of my time out in the forest collecting samples. We spend between 20-25 days of the month in the field, but I usually come back to town by the end of the month. Nights we camp but we also sleep in the field huts if they're available where we're working.

On a normal day in the field I will wake around 6am and prepare my breakfast and lunch, which is usually rice and vegetables and sometimes fish and eggs too. We start the trip into the forest around 7:30am where we drive or walk to a nearby focus area.

The main task in our work is to undertake extensive wildlife surveys in the Ulu Segama Malua Forest Reserves in-between Lahad Datu and Kinabatangan. We're interested in identifying food for Orang-utan and Elephant, obtaining samples of common food and sending them to The Forest Research Centre for chemical composition analyses to study the nutrients that feature in the animals' diets. By doing this, we get to know the health status of these particular animals and can decide if they are getting what they need from their habitat.

I have worked with WWF-Malaysia for 10 years now. My first job with WWF was collecting data about the populations of birds living in Kulamba Wildlife Reserve, on the East Coast of Sabah. I really like birds and I learned a lot about them from that time. My favorite birds are the Bornean Bristlehead and the Pitta.

The hardest thing about my jobs is definitely the physical challenges and all the walking I have to do. I have to climb so many hills and walk through mud that is so deep that is often comes up to my waist! Also, in the rainy season it can rain very heavily for weeks on end and it's really hard to stay dry or see long distances clearly in this weather...but really, they're not such big problems.

I like my job and I really enjoy being in the forest. I like how cool it is and the way the air so clean. When I'm in town, I am bothered by how busy and dirty and loud everything is! The forests where I get to work are so much more quiet and peaceful.

My Vision

"In the future, I would like to see North Ulu Segama (NUS) conserved and developed into Primary Rainforest. NUS is in the Heart of Borneo and is one of the last areas that is home to Orang-utan, elephants and other wildlife that are losing their habitats in Sabah.

I would also like to see some wildlife corridors created in this area of Sabah, connecting these special habitats between all of the plantations. This would allow the elephants and large mammals to move around more without disrupting the plantations."

This article has been published on the Heart of Borneo Newsletter on December 2010

WWF Supporter Trip to Sebangau National Park, the Gate of the Heart of Borneo

2013-04-10

From 17-20 May 2013, WWF-Indonesia will organise "Supporter Appreciation Trip" to the Sebangau National Park, the gate to the Heart of Borneo, in Central Kalimantan. The participants of trip will be taken to explore the peatland forest, follow day-to-day field activities done by our field staff and our partners, tree planting and to find out orangutan nest, and if possible the wild orangutan! Trip will be closed by taking participants to enjoy the culture of Dayak people at the Isen Mulang Festival, which has been a regular, annual activity organised by the government of Central Kalimantan Province.

The Sebangau National Park, 568,700 hectare in size, is a 'biodiversity bank' to more than 800 species of flora, 15 species of mammals, 182 species of birds and 54 species of snakes. The vegetation on Sebangau peatland is very specific and serves as valuable economic resource, both timber and non-timber forest products, such as rubber, rattan, herbs etc. The park is a home to Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), Proboscis Monkey (Nasalis larvatus), Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus), Owa (Hylobates agilitis), hornbills, clouded leopard, long-tail macaque, etc. More about Sebangau National Park

The Sebangau National Park is surrounded by 46 villages populated by more than 61,000 people with various background of culture, ethnic and is rich of local wisdom. Through this trip, WWF Supporters will be able to see rattan harvesting and fire football attraction performed by local villagers.

This trip is open for public. Participant should be at least 20 years old, physically and mentally health. WWF-Indonesia is offering two packages: Ticket and Non-ticket. The Ticket will cover Garuda roundtrip airfare Jakarta-Palangka Raya, local transportation, trip insurance, meals and accomodation, WWF t-shirt and cap plus trip guidebook, and "MyBabyTree" donation package. If you're an active WWF-Indonesia Supporter, IDR 1 million will be discounted from the price!

So, are you ready to have a trip of a life-time adventure to the heart of Borneo? Call (021)-5761076 or email to supporter-service@wwf.or.id. Registration will be closed on 1 May 2013. Hurry up, limited seats only for 9 people!

New species discovered in Brunei's Heart of Borneo region

2013-04-10

A two-year bio-diversity study of Brunei's Sungai Ingei Conservation Forest (SICF) has revealed several new species to science and several more never before recorded in Brunei.

Located on the south west of Belait District, bordering the Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, just 30km from the World Heritage Site of Mulu Caves, Sungai Ingei has been shown to be one of Brunei's major wildlife strongholds.

Led by Dr Joseph Charles from the University Brunei Darussalam (UBD), the study was carried out by scientists from the three Heart of Borneo countries - Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia.

"The purpose of this scientific study was to produce a database for the country so that future conservation management of wildlife can be well formulated," said Dr Charles, speaking at the February launch of an exhibition of the study's findings at the Empire Hotel, in Brunei Darussalam.

The SICF is a small area of 18,491 hectares, yet the survey revealed a huge number of faunal species including: 35 species of fish (six being new records for Brunei), 38 species of amphibians, two new species of frog-biting midges, 12 reptile species, 14 species of birds and 97 mammal species (including 28 species of bats).

Comparisons between SICF and other forest areas in the region, such as Kayan Mentarang National Park in Kalimantan, Maliau Basin Conservation Area in Sabah, and Gunung Mulu National Park in Sarawak, reveal that the Sungai Ingei shows the largest mammal species diversity, despite its small size.

Discussions are already underway around a proposal to link SICF with Mulu National Park in Sarawak, thereby achieving a trans-boundary milestone under the Heart of Borneo Initiative committed to by the three governments in 2007.

According to Brunei's Heart of Borneo Centre, Acting CEO, Mahmud Hj Yussof, Sungai Ingei's rich bio-diversity has the potential to contribute greatly to the economy and individual livelihoods, particularly in the area of eco-tourism. "By having ecotourism or nature tourism, we do not have to clear the forest, we just need to conserve it and promote it by recognizing its biodiversity values," he said.

The study had the backing of his Royal Highness, Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, who spoke during the Heart of Borneo Seminar, highlighting the richness of Brunei's pristine forests and noting the country's potential to become a world class centre for tropical forest research.

Standard Chartered Bank, were major sponsors of the survey and speaking at the exhibition, its CEO, Ms Lai Pei-Si, expressed her satisfaction at the results indicating that the bank would continue to support HoB Initiatives in the country.

The Sungai Ingei Conservation Forest survey was also supported by a number of other partners including Brunei Shell Petroleum, HSBC, Panaga Natural History Society and Brunei Nature Society.

Sumatran rhino footprints found in Borneo

2013-03-31

Sendawar, Indonesia -- A team from WWF-Indonesia has found fresh footprints resembling those of a critically endangered Sumatran rhino in the Heart of Borneo (HoB) area of East Kalimantan, Indonesia, the first time in over two decades that traces of the elusive rhino have appeared in the area.

To confirm the presence of the rare animal, a second team comprised of WWF-Indonesia, the West Kutai Forestry Agency, Mulawarman University and local observers launched a follow-up survey that found more evidence of rhino footprints, active mud wallows, marks on tree trunks, and signs that the rhinoceros species had been feeding in the area.

The survey team also identified more than 20 plant species rhinos feed on in abundance in the area, including Dillenia supruticosa, Glochidion glomemerulatum and Nblia Japanica. The abundant food and the overall natural conditions of the area further support the findings.

"This is a very important finding to the world, and especially to Indonesia's conservation work, as this serves as a new record on the presence of Sumatran rhinos in East Kalimantan and especially in West Kutai," said Bambang Noviyanto, the director for biodiversity conservation at the Forestry Ministry.

"Information surrounding the presence becomes important to draft strategies to protect the population, if it is found to be viable and breeding, and to educate [people living around] the habitat where [traces] of rhinos have been found," continued Bambang.

Experts taking part in the survey stated that no visual sighting has been made to date, and also cautioned that it is still too early to confirm whether the signs were made by a group of rhinos or just one remaining individual.

Sumatran rhinos in Kalimantan were presumed extinct in early 1990s. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the rare animal as Critically Endangered, with a population of fewer than 275 individuals now living in the wild.

Commenting on the findings, WWF-Indonesia conservation director Nazir Foead said, "WWF-Indonesia together with all stakeholders will conduct a follow-up and more comprehensive survey to map rhinos' habitat preference and their population in West Kutai."

"Based on the result of this survey, joint strategies and comprehensive and holistic action plans need to be immediately formulated."

Nazir further stated that the conservation plan and efforts for Sumatran Rhinos needed to be long-term, and therefore sustainable funding was needed, partly to ensure that the work also benefit people living around the rhinos' habitat.

The head of the West Kutai district, Ismael Thomas SH. M.Si, said, "Rhinos, dolphins, clouded leopards and local buffalo are among God's creations that are getting rare, but apparently they're still alive in West Kutai". Ismael added, "We must protect them, and the communities must live in harmony with nature."

According to Ismael, the West Kutai administration is committed to protecting rhinos, and will immediately issue a law on Endangered Animal and Plant Protection.

In partnership with WWF Indonesia, the local government will form a team to study and investigate the presence of the animals, to decide on precise conservation policies and programs, as well as sources of funding to support efforts to protect rhinos.

APP suppliers pulping new bid for sustainability credentials in Kalimantan?

2013-03-27

Pontianak, West Kalimantan – NGO observers have claimed that pulp timber suppliers to controversial paper giant Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) are continuing to log tropical forest and dig drainage canals through peat soils in Kalimantan, regardless of the new Forest Conservation Policy (FCP) launched with much fanfare by APP and parent group Sinar Mas last month.

APP, noting that the suppliers have denied breaching requirements of the FCP, is investigating a complaint lodged by the Consortium of Kalimantan's Forest Monitoring NGOs (RPHK)

Over the same period that heavy machinery was apparently engaged in logging and dredging on the two concessions , representatives of both APP and the two supplier companies hosted a meeting 80 km away in provincial capital Pontianak to convince sceptical local NGOs that the FCP was not yet another company greenwashing stunt.

APP has previously announced an end to tropical forest pulping in 2004, 2007 and 2009. On February 5 it hosted a gala announcement that it had halted tropical forest clearing on its own and independent supplier concessions throughout Indonesia on January 31, with heavy equipment impounded pending independent assessment of conservation values and above ground carbon.

RPHK members, who were among those present at the February 26 meeting in Potianak, lodged a complaint on the basis of extensive photographic and video evidence of the work on concessions of PT Asia Tani Persada (ATP) and PT Daya Tani Kalbar (DTK), two of the four companies disclosed by APP as West Kalimantan suppliers to its mills in devastated Sumatra.

RPHK observers familiar with the areas of the two concessions said they contained orang-utan habitat. The promised assessments would have examined whether and where orang-utans are still present.

"We are really concerned to see how heavy equipment is still actively clearing natural forest, digging peat canals and clearing the land in the two supplier's concessions in West Kalimantan. This is a clear violation of the APP's FCP that APP socialized in Pontianak on 26 February," said Baruni Hendri, a spokesperson of the RPHK consortium.

"Our findings showed that APP is not taking their conservation policy seriously, thus making RPHK doubt APP's seriousness on the implementation of their commitment."

APP has issued a statement that "Our policy is clear - there would be no natural forest clearance anywhere in our supply chain and every supplier has been advised of he policy details."

"We contacted the suppliers and both have strongly indicated that they are not in breach of our policy and that the likely cause is concession boudaries that overlap with other industries."

WWF-Indonesia, a member of RPHK with local NGOs, has called on APP and its parent, the giant Sinar Mas Group, to quickly close a loophole allowing mills to continue accepting "stockpiled" mixed tropical hardwoods for an indefinite period, nominating May 5 as giving ample time to clear stockpiles. The evidence of current clearing vindicates concerns that freshly cleared timber will continue to be "laundered" into pulp mills.

"We call on global buyers of pulp and paper to remain skeptical and await independent verification by independent NGOs of the credible field implementation of APP's FCP before making any new purchasing decision," said Anton P. Wijaya, Director Executive of WALHI (Friends of Earth Indonesia) chapter West Kalimantan.

Member groups of the Consortium of Kalimantan Forest Monitoring Volunteers (RPHK) able to provide information in English are WWF-Indonesia (Contact : Ian Hilman, +6282121868624, ihilman@wwf.or.id), and TITIAN, an active biodiversity conservation institute for local community sustainable benefits in West Kalimantan (Contact Director, Sulhani +62561-6589198). Other member groups include AKAR, an illegal wildlife crime monitoring network in Borneo, actively raising public awareness about the importance of wildlife protection and their habitat; JPIK Kalimantan Barat, a civil society network that focuses on monitoring effort of the sustainable forest management for Forest Plantation Wood Production Permit; Link-AR Borneo (Lingkaran Advokasi dan Riset), a civil society organization focus on advocacy based on research or investigation related to land plunder and biodiversity degradation, as well as community empowerment ( www.linkarborneo.com); SAMPAN (Sahabat Masyarakat Pantai), a civil society organization focus on advocacy for costal and watershed communities (www.sampankalimantan.org) and LEMBAH, an active institute in Bengkayang District for social and economic empowerment based on environment.

Photos and videos of this issue can be accessed through:
www.linkarborneo.com and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o54C3jf6PLYRPHK.

PT. Dwimajaya Utama in the Heart of Borneo (HoB) receives FSC certification

2013-03-19

PT. Dwimajaya Utama will be the 7th company actually located in the HoB to receive FSC certification. This successful outcome for PT Dwimajaya Utama came following a two year independent audit that looked at the concession operational process and then worked together with stakeholders to formulate a management plan to harvest timber with lesser impact to the forest's health and to plant more trees than are cut down; while avoiding displacing native people and harming wildlife and habitat.

Tom Maddox, Leader of WWF HoB Global Initiative, congratulated PT Dwimajaya Utama for having achieved FSC certification and joining TBI membership, towards greener and sustainable forest management in the HoB.

"We need to continue building a sustainable forestry business in the HoB with certification. We need to engage more timber companies operating in Borneo to adopt certification scheme. Why is this important? Because forest and timber certification is a tool for sustainable development. With this, our journey towardssustainable timber production in Borneo will be accelerated, further and farther."

Located in Central Kalimantan's upper Katingan watershed, and sharing the other administrative area of Gunung Mas District, the PT. Dwimajaya Utama concession area is an important habitat for protected plants and animals, including Orangutans, Bornean Gibbons, Clouded Leopards and Helmeted Hornbills.

The PT. Dwimajaya Utama concession covers 127,300 hectares and supplies four main commercial tree species to the market: Bangkirai (Shorea laevis), Red Meranti (Shorea spp), Mersawa (Anisoptera spp) and Keruing (Dipterocarpus spp).

Forestry is one of three high-impact sectors influencing the conservation health of the HoB area. Timber supply, palm oil cultivation and mining—represent HoB's large-scale, high-impact sectors. These sectors play important roles in the current economies of Borneo.

The forestry sector in Borneo has received considerable negative international publicity for its perceived impacts on the rainforests of Borneo. There is a growing awareness amongst consumers of the potentially negative environmental and social impacts associated with unsustainably produced forest products. As a result, demand for sustainably sourced products has increased signiﬁcantly during the last 15 years.

To ensure that open and increased access to the global market for Indonesian timber, companies need to guarantee buyers that the timber and its by-products are legal and are sourced in an environmentally friendly manner. These issues encourage forestry companies to run their businesses responsibly and in balance with communities and the environment.

One way to guarantee the market that timber comes from well-managed forest is by certification. It can help provide environmental, social and economic benefits. Certification also boosts sustainability in the long term as forest managers are requested to improve their monitoring systems and to implement the results obtained. This can have an impact on areas such as forest productivity or the impact of logging on biodiversity and species composition of the forests.

Rizal Bukhari from TBI said that his organization supports actions toward sustainable forest in the HoB. Since 2009, TBI has assisted 31 natural forest concessions, equal to 3.3 million hectares, 7 have received FSC certificates.

"The awards ceremony will also acknowledge the beginning of certification negotiations with seven concessions with a combined area of 800.000 hectares, four of them are in the HoB area," Rizal added.

During the event, TBI will also highlight two certification schemes for Indonesian timber companies, FSC and SVLK (Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu - Combined Certification for Legality), discuss the benefit of following the dual certification. Discussions will be built around the issues how to apply the different scheme in the field and how to maximize the benefit. The event theme is (SVLK) and Sustainability (PHPL-FSC) in Natural Forest Management in Indonesia.

The Habitat of Borneo Pygmy Elephants Threatened by Two Industrial Plantation Companies

2013-03-04

Nunukan, East Kalimantan, 28 February 2013.

The habitat of Borneo pygmy elephant (Elephas maximus borneensis) in Tulin Onsoi Sub-district, Nunukan District, which also part of the Heart of Borneo (HoB) area are threatened to be converted into rubber, jabon and sengon plantations. There are two industrial plantation companies that already received principal permission, and currently they are on EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) process to acquire the industrial plantation license. Those companies are PT. Borneo Utara Lestari (PT. BUL) and PT. Intracawood Manufacturing (PT. IWM).

WWF-Indonesia analysed that 66% of the conversion area proposed by PT. BUL is inside the elephant habitat, and the conversion area proposed by PT. IWM is 100% elephant habitat. The habitat of endangered species should not be converted to industrial plantation development. The distribution of the Borneo Pygmy elephant in Indonesia is limited to the Tulit Onsoi sub-district. If the conversion plans are indeed executed, then this might cause that Kalimantan does not have any Borneo elephants anymore. The conversion is also opposed to Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry Regulation Law No.P44/Menhut-II/2007 about Strategic and Action Plan for Sumatran and Bornean Elephant Conservation.

"The license approval for industrial plantation in elephant habitat area will give negative impact to the local community. If the area is cleared, those wild elephants will be short of feed. As the result, the elephants will forage in the community settlement, provoking conflict", said Agus Suyitno, Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation Officer, for WWF-Indonesia Kalimantan Timur Program. "The human-elephant conflict has been taking place since 2005. The industrial plantation development will aggravate conflicts. Therefore, the industrial plantation development licenses should be denied and their operations should be stopped".

"The companies EIA must be compatible with facts that were found in the field. The plantations may in the Forestry Cultivation Area, but they also in the natural habitat of elephant. Thus, the area should not be cleared. High risk and high cost", said Santifil Oslo, Head of Tulin Onsoi Sub-district.

The Borneo pygmy elephant has been classified as endangered species by the IUCN. On 2007-2012, WWF-Indonesia and Nature Conservation Agency in East Kalimantan have been conducting joint research, and the result predicted that the pygmy elephant population is around 20-80 individuals. Pygmy elephant is the smallest elephant sub-species in the world. The indigenous people of Dayak Agabag in Tulin Onsoi give this remarkable species a nickname, "Nenek" (or 'grandmother'). According to them, elephant is a sacred animal and should not be disturbed.

Ilay, vice chairman of the indigenous community in Sungai Tulid – one of the Borneo elephant habitat area – declared, "We expressly disclaimed if the land is cleared, because that land is also our indigenous forest. If that forest will be cleared again, Nenek will get angry and come to our village more often, destroy our plants".

To mitigate the human-elephant conflict, the East Kalimantan Nature Conservation Agency, Nunukan District Government and WWF-Indonesia has established the human-elephant conflict mitigation task force, which membered by local community from 11 villages in Tulin Onsoi Sub-district. The main duty of this task force is to prevent and take control whenever there is a human-elephant conflict. This effort has started to show some results, because the intensity of elephant visits to the community area are now declining.

--End--

For more info, please contact:

Wiwin Effendy, Coordinator of WWF-Indonesia East Kalimantan Program
Email: weffendy@wwf.or.id, Mobile: +628125859265

Agus Suyitno, Human-Elephant Conflict Mitigation Officer, WWF-Indonesia East Kalimantan Program
Email: asuyitno@wwf.or.id, Mobile: +6282157779933

Note for Editors:
Related maps and photos can be accessed through https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qj60h7jhgagad04/lhxCcSyQbd

WWF Heart of Borneo Media Release - Earth Hour 2013

2013-02-28

EARTH HOUR MORE THAN LIGHTS OFF
From Botswana to Borneo and all around the globe - Earth Hour launches its 2013 campaign as a platform for outcomes to change the planet

FEBRUARY 27 2013, SINGAPORE: Earth Hour, the world's largest movement for the planet, has launched its 2013 campaign on the back of record environmental outcomes it achieved in 2012.

Andy Ridley, CEO and Co-Founder of Earth Hour, spoke at the media launch of the environmental campaign in Singapore today. Earth Hour 2013 will take place on Saturday, March 23 at 8:30PM. "Earth Hour has always been more than a lights off campaign, and we are now seeing some extraordinary environmental outcomes on the way to achieving our long-term vision," Ridley said.

Earth Hour in the Heart of Borneo (HoB)

In the Heart of Borneo, Earth Hour is asking participants from around the world to sign an online pledge – Add your voice to save HoB - to encourage the governments of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia to continue to conserve the Heart of Borneo, 22 million hectares of pristine forests and one of Asia's largest remaining primary forests. This global action is as not only saving the world from the potential of huge carbon pollution emissions but helping to conserve 6% of the worlds biodiversity and the habitat of thousands of species and endangered animals such as Orangutans, Pygmy Elephants, Rhinos and Clouded Leopards.

WWF Heart of Borneo Global Initiative Leader, Dr Tom Maddox, says he is encouraged by Earth Hour's support in highlighting WWF's HoB global initiative to the world. "Earth Hour is not just about turning off lights. It is also creating global awareness of how people power can really help in the quest to save our planet and pressure governments and companies to do the right thing.

It's not all gloom and doom for the Island of Borneo and its rich biodiversity, unique wildlife and indigenous culture. It can be saved, but we must act now and public support can be the key to making both governments and companies stick to their promises for a green economic future," said Dr Maddox.

WWF HoB contact
Thomas Maddox PhD MBA BSc.
tmaddox@wwf.or.id
Leader, WWF Heart of Borneo Global Initiative
Tel: +62 21 782 9461 ext. 152
Mobile: +62 8119006277
Skype: tmmaddox

Up to US$30.5 million in new funds to support green economies in the Heart of Borneo

2013-02-27

On Tuesday, 26 February, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) board formally approved its US$4.5 million co-funding for the new Sustainable Forest and Biodiversity Management program in the Heart of Borneo.

This funding is part of a program that was approved by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council in November 2012. In addition to the ADB's US$4.5m, the GEF will provide US$2.5m, the Government of Indonesia US$0.5m and WWF US$2m. The GEF program is an example of the power of collaboration with public sector partners, which has resulted in several new funding mechanisms directed at the Heart of Borneo program.

An additional US$2m for social development and community empowerment from the Japan Fund for Poverty Alleviation, and up to US$19.5m from the Forest Investment Programme (FIP) in Indonesia.

In total a potential investment of around US$30.5m for forest conservation and green growth interventions in the HoB. The programs are designed to ensure the sustainable management of forest resources and biodiversity in the Indonesian portion of the Heart of Borneo (HoB) through direct engagement with governments, communities and private sector companies.

By reducing pressure on forests and promoting sustainable and equitable forest and land management, the project will help reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions, with potential co-benefits in the form of poverty reduction, improved quality of life for the indigenous peoples and local communities, protection of local peoples' rights, and enhanced conservation of biodiversity and other ecosystem services.

Through its unique partnership, WWF and ADB have been nurturing the development and design of new programs to support the transition of the HoB towards a green economy. The project will be structured around the following components:

1. Strengthening policies and institutions for sustainable forest and biodiversity management

2. Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and carbon stock enhancement (REDD+) to improve management of land use and forestry practices

3. Innovative Sustainable Financing Mechanisms

4. Create Sustainable Livelihood Systems

The HoB is one of the four major regions in Asia and the Pacific where WWF and ADB seek to reduce the impact of the global footprint on natural capital. The other initiatives are the Coral Triangle, the Greater Mekong Sub-region and the Living Himalayas. See the: Ecological Footprint and Investment in Natural Capital in Asia and the Pacific

Kutai Barat: between low carbon development and demand for 7% of economic growth

2013-02-21

WWF-Indonesia has been developing carbon project under Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) mechanism. One of four REDD+ pilot projects in the Heart of Borneo is in Kutai Barat District in East Kalimantan, Indonesia.

REL (Reference Emission Level) development is the first important step in REDD+ scheme. You need to know reference level from which you would start to count emission reduction you have achieved. REL determines level of emission happened in the absence of REDD+ activities. REL is used to measure the effectiveness of an REDD+ project, it estimates carbon stock in the forests and level of emission reduction should be achieved in order to maintain the stock.

In February 2013, WWF-Indonesia in collaboration with ICRAF and government of Kutai Barat organized a workshop for government staff on how to determine REL using spatial approach and analysis (Maxent and Luwes) and further discussion on Kutai Barat sustainable development scenario.

Workshop is a continuation of the MRV training which was previously conducted in Balikpapan, December 2012. Participants of workshop are technical staff from the local Planning Office (Bappeda), Forestry Office, Agriculture Plantation Crop and Animal Husbandry Office, Public Works Agency, and the Mining and Energy Office. The series of workshop is necessary knowledge and skills to carry out technical works for sustainable development local scenario in Kutai Barat.

Both workshops are in line with the Regional Action Plan for Greenhouse Gases (Rencana Aksi Daerah dalam Penurunan Gas Rumah Kaca/RAD-GRK), both at the national level and at the level of East Kalimantan Province in low carbon development scenarios that support the Government of Indonesia's commitment to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions.

Each district in East Kalimantan, including Kutai Barat District should prepare implementation strategy for low carbon development commitment while supporting the demand for 7% economic growth in the district development. With the RAD-GRK, each district will have a plan of joint efforts on environmental-friendly development activities, using resources efficiently, and simultaneously reduce emissions.

Dr. Stephanus Madang, the government representative when opening the workshop mentioned that to realize the sustainable development in Kutai Barat, it will be needed scenario/plan sustainable development involving the cooperation and commitment of all the parties in the implementation and achievement of sustainable development programs in line with Kutai Barat's vision and mission.

Moreover, Kutai Barat still has fairly extensive forests and other natural resources that are still not well-managed and organized in order to improve the local economy and public welfare by taking into account environmental aspect and in line with the principles of sustainable development.

WWF-Indonesia appreciated the government full participation in the workshop as it is helpful to support a success Kutai Barat as REDD+ pilot project in Indonesia, particularly in the Heart of Borneo area.

Capacity building on REL and sustainable development scenario will be organised into 3 phases of activities, which are on 19-20 February, 24-28 February, and 5-7 March. The activities are carried out separately in Kutai Barat and Bogor. The improved capacity will provide a big impact on environmental conservation and protection of biodiversity and climate change mitigation in Indonesia.

Community connections deep in the Heart of Borneo

2013-02-21

Difficult access in several villages in Gunung Mas District, Central Kalimantan has made it an expensive transportation for people in those places. Poor infrastructure services can cause social and communication isolation, where access to media and news streams is limited. As an effort to bridge gap of information, WWF-Indonesia Central Kalimantan established community radio "Sandukui FM", a non-commercial radio station, in Tumbang Napoi, Miri Manasa Subdistrict. The radio has been airing since January 2012 within frequency 102 FM.

The name "Sandukui" itself is taken from a hill in the Muller mountain range. Powered by 100 watt transmitter, the radio iniatially reached out three villages in Gunung Mas District, Rangan Hiran, Mesukih and Harowu. Now in 2013, the radio has been able to cover now eight villages with two transmitters placed in Rangan Hiran and Mesukih.

After two years in operation, Sandukui FM is still struggling to survive. In January, WWF visited some villages to familiarise the radio to local community, explaining the advantange and how community can maximise the benefit of the radio to help distribute local information around them.

"Not only to fulfill the information needs, the locally-produced content that is relevant to their culture and daily lives. Sandukui FM is also expected to become effective media to educate the public, especially local community about enviroment." said Nina Nuraisyiah, Communications Coordinator of WWF-Indonesia Central Kalimantan Program.

In Tumbang Apoi, the community enthusiastically welcome the presence of Sandukui FM community radio. The young people were actively participated in the first radio broadcast training held by WWF-Indonesia and its partners of Central Kalimantan Communications Network on various basic skills, from broadcast techniques and how to establish a program or material.

"Community is really supportive. They have early-started announcers who are really interested to learn more about radio broadcast. They discussed content of radio program they want and believe that it is the required content. However they still need to leverage their new skill," said Erwan Asbun, a local professional announcer who assists the establishment of Radio Sandukui FM.

Support is needed to build long-term capacity such as provision of training on the basic electronic skill, the how-to-become announcer, including creating good, fun, educational radio production, and how to do self-fundraising for daily running cost.

Community radio station is limited in raising funds especially from advertising or sponsorship, therefore they have to be creative and equipped with necessary knowledge to source the potential funding properly.

Sandukui FM is getting assistance from WWF Central Kalimantan communications unit to develop program and material. Everyday, the radio will be airing from 6am to 9am, and from 5pm to 9pm. The time arrangement is basically run on the electric availability sourcing fully from solar power.

Sandukui FM is not the first WWF-initiated community radio. Previously, more than two years ago, WWF Central Kalimantan assisted the establishment in the Sebangau NP area, Mendawai FM and Sebangau Kuala FM.

"We also encourage local community to produce their own radio program, currently WWF assists production of PSA, radio drama, and other for the radio to deliver the environment message. It is hoped that the with the presence of the radio, building awareness of environment will be more effective," Nina added.

Natural Capital meets Social Capital for more sustainable livelihoods in the HoB

2013-02-08

By Cristina Eghenter

It might not be so evident that charcoal or a kind of 'black' production could lead to a greener rural economy pathway, but the experience of the NGO Dian Tama and communities in West Kalimantan tell a different story, one in which green vegetation can turn black for greener results!

For years practitioners and local farmers have worked together with experts from Japan on how to produce good quality charcoal from burning the wood of locally planted and enriched plots, and sell it on the market as briquettes for use in energy efficient cooking stoves, organic agriculture and sustainable animal husbandry.

The 'carbon minus capture& storage' is a simple, efficient and environmentally sound technology with wide agricultural application. It is low cost and can be easily applied in developing countries contexts. It is a technology that capitalizes on the natural circulation of carbon on earth and the production of inorganic carbon through the carbonization of biomass that does not increase CO2.

A decade-long collaboration and the technology transfer from Japanese experts to local practitioners have laid the foundation for more sustainable farming (rice, vegetables). The char compost is produced and scattered in the fields and plots to increase soil productivity, it is mixed into the animal feed to increase resistance to common diseases, and also spread as a thin layer on the floor of animal sheds thus reducing smell and contributing to a cleaner environment.

This is just one example of environmentally appropriate technology with great potential for application in rural situations and communities in the Heart of Borneo. Other, similar experiences of how to build sustainability and harness the rich natural resources in the Heart of Borneo to improve local livelihoods were shared and discussed at a meeting in Pontianak (West Kalimantan) in December 2012. This was part of the 2-year long series of public debates and seminars on Green Economy and sustainability in HoB.

Over sixty communities' representatives from the area, and a few participants from the Krayan Highlands in East Kalimantan, at the border between Malaysia and Indonesia, members of local NGOs and WWF, experts and academics from Tanjungpura University (UNTAN), met for three days to discuss Green Economies, rural livelihoods and development needs of the communities in the Heart of Borneo with a special focus on the border area as a dynamic, emerging frontline for sustainable development in the Heart of Borneo.

The discussions showed how important it is to root a green economy concept into local reality, traditional practices and appropriate technology. Participants might have been quick at voicing suspicion and even criticism at high and theoretical concepts like 'Green Economy,' but they enthusiastically contributed and shared their own interpretations and explorations of green economies that can really help improve sustainability and transform their livelihoods.

Community-based ecotourism enterprises, organic rice agriculture, wild honey production, handicraft making, these are promising economic, community enterprises that are built on two main elements: respect of local cultural and social values, and traditional practices; and good business sense with sound valuation of the natural capital and within the limits of the sustainable use of natural resources. Green economy and local livelihoods are coming closer together for sustainable development in the Heart of Borneo.