An Indonesian oil palm plantation is up for sale and we have a golden opportunity to buy this land and restore the lush forest that once stood there. This will provide shelter for orangutans and other endangered animals, and create a vital asset for local communities. By donating, you will help return this land to the forest and wildlife to whom it once belonged. Our plan is simple. Working with our local partners we wil we will buy and restore this 890 acre site to its former natural glory.
Sumatran orangutans are critically endangered with only 14,600 surviving in the wild. 80% of them live in the Leuser forest. But the border to this forest is porous, leading to poaching, illegal logging and agriculture. The palm oil plantation we want to buy is a known human wildlife conflict hotspot, with two tigers, one elephant and one orangutan having been killed or rescued from the plantation in the last two years.
This project aims to buy the land for our Indonesian partners OIC. They have a long track record of reforesting palm oil plantations and returning them to lush rainforest. They will replant 80% of the land with indigenous tree species, allowing wildlife to return. They will use the rest of the land as a permaculture demonstration and training centre, allowng them to train local farmers in sustainable practices. This will mean locals are less likely to chop down trees.
Our long-term view is of safe, protected forest for orangutans and other iconic critically endangered Sumatran species, such as rhinos, elephants and tigers. They should live in the wild where they belong. We aim to do this by creating a buffer zone around the entire national park area, making it harder for people to access the forest. We also fund boots on the ground to patrol the area once the forest is back to ensure these animals can enjoy their freedom without risk of human interference.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
