Where We Work
Currently, WWF works in three provinces in Sumatra - Aceh, Riau and Lampung - to protect natural forests with high conservation values in order to balance ecological functions and economic development for the people.
WWF, together with its partners such other NGOs scientists, local government and communities has been:
- collecting and analyzing data on natural forest, wildlife and other biodiversity and environmental values on the island, which can be used for designing and implementing ecosystem-based land use plans and forest-carbon financed conservation projects;
- monitoring natural forest cover and land use by companies and communities to identify drivers of loss and fragmentation of natural forest, as well as, decomposition and burning of peat at ground level;
- engaging local, national and international stakeholders to convince such drivers to avoid such activities and supporting intervention and law enforcement efforts;
- reducing human-wildlife conflict that results from loss of wildlife’s forest habitat.
- providing access to income generation alternatives for forest dependent people
WWF work occasionally in Jambi, in the periphery of Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, mostly through operations of its tiger patrol and forest crime units engaging the pulp industry APRIL and APP. WWF has collaborated closely with Jambi-based NGOs KKI WARSI, Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS), Zoological Society of London (ZSL), and Sumatran Tiger Conservation Program (PKHS).
WWF is currently not working in West Sumatra but recognized that part of the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park – Rimbang Baling Wildlife Reserve tiger corridor, a forested mountain ridge runs along the boundary of Riau and West Sumatra need to be protected and in some places rehabilitated to assure the integrity of this corridor.
In addition to the current field work, WWF together with ForTRUST (Forum on Spatial Plan for Sumatra Island) consists of NGOs and Scientists provide technical assistance and recommendations for policy maker to develop ecosystem-based spatial plan for Sumatra. WWF consider that the remaining natural forest, all of them providing habitats for critically endangered Sumatran tigers, orangutans and rhinos and endangered Sumatran elephants are crucial for their survival. Some of the remaining natural forest is also on top of peat soil and their protection is crucial for saving global climate. Therefore, WWF and its partners recommend all the remaining natural forest in Sumatra to be protected.
WWF is also recommending that government and industry protect the remaining high conservation value forest left in Sumatra and instead develop agricultural plantations on so-called –“idle” land where natural forest had been cleared, but not replanted by any crop cover and left idle to have grass lands, shrubs, and other secondary re-growth.
