Help us to increase Orangutan protection efforts in the Batang Toru ecosystem forests of Sibual Buali, Dolok Sipirok and Lubuk Raya in the Tapanuli region. Batang Toru Orangutan is important because it is genetically different to the northern Sumatran orangutan populations of Leuser NP. This project will engage the local community to participate in orangutan & forest protection efforts, especially focusing on education, alternative income generation and community ranger training and development
The Orangutan populations of the Tapanuli region face numerous threats from communities surrounding the forests. Orangutans that are forced to enter agricultural land due to illegal logging in conservation areas, are frequently shot with air rifles because of the damage they cause to crops. Orangutan conservation in this region is extremely limited because the little government funding that exists for Orangutan conservation is centred around larger populations within Gunung Leuser National Park.
This project will help to create a strong foundation to fight the root of the Orangutan conservation problem by engagement with local small-scale farmers as frontline protectors with their involvement on orangutan & forest protection patrols, to educate farmers on ways to deter Orangutans from crops with methods other than the use of air rifles and conducting conservation awareness among the young generation, also showing the benefits and importance of co-existence between orangutans & humans
Currently, the Orangutan population in and around the nature reserves is between 40-70 individuals. We hope to increase the Tapanuli Orangutan population & ensure the security of more than 15,000 hectares of Orangutan habitat spread over 3 nature reserves. The project also hopes to impact the behaviour & attitudes of the local community, where Orangutans will no longer be seen as pests but as a high value benefit, promoting a sense of pride in the community for having Orangutans in their region
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
