Community Conservation
In addition to thousands of species of flora and fauna, around four million people living in Sumatra depend on the Leuser forests for crucial ecological services. Together with the OIC, we promote conservation amongst communities living next to this precious ecosystem, helping them understand their role in protecting the forests, and how they can support and improve their own livelihoods by taking part in grassroots conservation action.
Our programmes empower the local people to become guardians of the forest, equipping them with the tools and motivation needed to protect Sumatra's orangutans and all the other species which share their rainforest home.
To date, seven communities have joined our network of ‘conservation villages', created conservation action plans and embarked on bespoke training to build their capacity to fulfil these plans. All aim to support sustainable livelihoods as well as conservation. Activities include agroforestry, organic farming, biogas energy development, fish farming, ecotourism, tree nursery management and forest restoration. Nine tree nurseries have been built to support community-managed forest restoration programmes.
This model of community engagement increases awareness, ownership, and responsibility towards the environment. Our programmes are targeted on a number of critical communities adjacent to orangutan habitat, currently being run in the Langkat district of North Sumatra, and the Aceh Tenggara district of Aceh. This focused approach in key regions allows us to build strong relationships with communities, and allows them to develop stronger commitments to conservation action in their local area.
These activities are complemented by an educational programme, so that people can learn to better appreciate the forest ecosystem and all it has to offer - and all that there is to lose.
Ecotourism
Ecotourism has the potential to contribute both to the conservation of orangutans as well as local development goals, and can be a sustainable livelihood opportunity for local communities living near protected areas. The Sumatran orangutan has extraordinary potential to catalyse conservation action for the Gunung Leuser National Park, but tourism ventures must be managed responsibly in order to be in the best interests of the local communities, wildlife and habitats. SOS and OIC have been working with communities in Bukit Lawang, Tangkahan, Marike and Ketambe to develop responsible ecotourism practices. More than 150 forest guides have been trained as part of our ecotourism development projects.
