An e-newsletter from your friends in Issue #5

Orangutan Times Gunung Palung Conservation Program Spring 2012

In This Issue Community Portrait: Sebadak Raya Village Page 1 Community Portrait: Sebadak Raya

Page 2 Sebadak Raya continued Empowered communities such as Sebadak Raya are the greatest Page 3 Orangutan Caring Scholarships - hope for conservation. Announced! O

r Page 4 Staff Profile: Mariamah Achmad On the 22nd and 23rd of February, in the village of Sebadak Raya, an a Page 5 Staff Changes environmental activities day was held, which included discussions about n Page 6 Staff Changes continued customary forests, REDD++ opportunities and climate change. Community g members were also able to partake in an environmental lecture, a puppet show Page 7 Make a Difference u for school children and environmental film screenings. The event was organized t by Fauna & Flora International, Edi Nurdiansyah from Yayasan a Palung (GPOCP), the volunteers of Yayasan Palung’s TAJAM n conservation volunteer youth group, as well as volunteers from RMI s (The Indonesian Institute for Forest Environment).

R e Sebadak Raya has around 700 families, is located in the district of s Sandai, Regency, West , and is one of few c remaining places in the region untouched by plantations and mines. u e d Continued on page two - P a l m

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Approximately 14,000 hectares of However, indigenous beliefs are not the to move into the area. The forest surround the village, of which only beliefs held in the village, the community wishes to conserve the 2,450 hectares are ‘customary forest’ or customary rules of other communities forest for future generations to be able legally recognized traditional are also respected. Rules for having to to appreciate, and be part of the community land. keep certain livestock, such as pigs, is natural environment that is so central one example, and demonstrates the to their traditional beliefs. In this time Trees stand tall around the community, plurality of values that keeps harmony of rapid deforestation for conversion the forest is valued and the community among the community. of land to agricultural and mining has appreciation for traditional areas, where the disappearance of customs. During the environmental Recently, agricultural and mining community lands is high, empowered activities day the team was invited to companies have tried, several times, to communities such as Sebadak Raya watch a fruit ceremony, a ritual enter into the Sebadak Raya area. standing up for their forests is what traditionally held at harvest time. The Despite their efforts, the community gives the greatest hope for indigenous communities of Sebadak has stated their strong opposition to any conservation. Raya hold strong beliefs about fruit such activity, and after a public hearing trees, they are viewed as a source of life concerning the matter are currently and are forbidden from being cut down. standing against the companies’ desires

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Orangutan Caring Scholarships Announced!

On Friday, May 18th, the two rather than existing university orangutan and forest conservation. winning students, Rinta Islami and students. By selecting students still in In total, 14 students applied, of Ayu Agustin, selected for the first high school the program sees the whom eight passed the first phase. ever Beasiswa Peduli Orangutan students through their entire The second phase consisted of (Orangutan Caring Scholarships university process, and links high presentations given by the candidates Program) in , were schools and universities together in and interviews with a jury, after presented with their scholarships at strengthening the future of orangutan which the final two recipients were an award ceremony held in conservation in West Kalimantan. selected based on the highest scores. Ketapang. The program has three main goals: 1) to foster an intellectual generation in The scholarship value is All GPOCP staff, the selection panel, Ketapang and Kayong Utara that has approximately $1500 per student, the top eight students and local press a commitment to, and concern for, and will cover university entrance attended the evening. Gary Shapiro, the cause of orangutan and habitat fees, yearly tuition fees for all four from program partner, Orang Utan conservation, 2) to provide moral and years, as well as research and thesis Republik, flew in to present the material support to young people of costs. The winning candidates have a scholarships to the recipients, Ketapang and Kayong Utara for the number of obligations they must making the evening a great official continuation of their education to the maintain throughout their time at start to the scholarship program in college level and 3) to promote university for the continuation of West Kalimantan. educational cooperation between their scholarship into the following parties in Ketapang and Kayong year. Each student’s grade point The program provides scholarships Utara on the topic of natural resource average must be 2.75 or above, they for local students from the Ketapang use. This year the program sought must volunteer for one month a year and Kayong Utara regencies to one student from each regency, and at GPOCP and their research thesis attend the Tangjungpura University was aimed at students from must be related to Bornean in , and is a collaboration economically disadvantaged orangutan conservation. between the Orang Utan Republik backgrounds. Foundation, Orangutan Outreach These exciting scholarships will start and GPOCP. A similar program In order to apply, students were in the 2012-2013 academic year, and exists in Sumatra, on which our required to submit their school are a promising start to building an program is based, although our grades, two letters of reference and intellectual generation that is program differs slightly, as we select support from an academic tutor, a committed to orangutan and habitat students that are still in high school, motivational letter and an essay about conservation in West Kalimantan.

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GPOCP Staff Profile The Charles Southwick Conservation Education Commitment Award Winner Mariamah Achmad

In recognition of her outstanding long-term conservation movement to commitment to conservation survive. Education has always been a education, GPOCP’s Mariamah calling for Mariamah, before joining Day and Orangutan Caring Week. Achmad was recently given the GPOCP she was the head of capacity Furthermore, Mariamah expanded our Charles Southwick Award by the building for the largest environmental curriculum to include not only the International Primatological Society. organization in , WALHI teaching of important field skills such Mariamah oversees GPOCP’s (Friends of the Earth Indonesia). as plant identification, but also education team and dozens of organizational management, volunteers, coordinates all program Mariamah has been an inspirational presentation development and delivery activities and is continually developing leader of our education team, and in her and other related skills. the education program to advance first year increased our outreach to conservation in communities around extend to 40-50% more students and The Charles Southwick Award is Gunung Palung National Park. schools than the previous year, and structured so that $250 goes to a local further developed relationships with organization of the recipient’s choice; Mariamah grew up in West teachers in order to reinvigorate a Mariamah chose to give this to Kalimantan, the relatively isolated commitment to environmental education TAJAM, a local conservation province where we work. She first in the classroom. In 2011 she oversaw a volunteer youth group. The remaining became involved with environmental redesign of our lesson plans and the $750 goes to the award winner and and conservation issues as a forestry creation of specialized modules to cover Mariamah felt that she should use it to student at the local university, mangrove habitat, climate change, eco- increase her capacity as a conservation Universitas Tanjungpura. She felt tourism, palm oil plantations and other educator. Therefore, to widen her compelled to address the poverty and issues particular to the communities we national and international social conflict that so often causes work with. Last year the program environmental network, and increase environmental degradation in reached an impressive 5,833 students and her conservation knowledge, she used Indonesia. When inter-ethnic violence 99 teachers in 135 schools throughout the award to attend a conservation erupted in West Kalimantan, a result of the Ketapang and Kayong Utara conference in Java held by the the fall of the Suharto dictatorship, regencies, where 220 activities were Indonesian environmental campaign Mariamah worked with displaced conducted, including lectures, puppet group ProFauna. communities, heading an alternative shows and practical activities. education program in refugee camps It has meant a great deal to Mariamah while finishing her undergraduate Her work has diversified our education to be recognized for her achievements degree. In addition to her passion for program by mentoring secondary schools and commitment to the cause she environmental issues, Mariamah to develop their own volunteer believes in so passionately. She has volunteers with local credit unions and conservation youth groups. These groups made, and no doubt will continue to women’s rights organizations to build now take leading roles in organizing make, a significant contribution to the stability her community needs for a GPOCP outreach events such as Earth conservation education in Indonesia.

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GPOCP Staff Changes

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We are pleased to announce some While coordinating the Campaign With Tito’s longstanding service and r important and exciting GPOCP project he began to work with local outstanding dedication to GPOCP, staff changes that have taken radio stations to broadcast regular promotion to Field Director was a a place over the last four months. environmental programs. natural step. n Serving GPOCP since 2008, Field Director, Andrew de Sousa, In 2002 Tito became Coordinator for He is proud to work for GPOCP g our Animal Protection Program, and because he feels that we are unique moved on to a new opportunity in u Thailand at the beginning of 2012. during this time began to work with in that even though we are not a Tito Indrawan and Monalisa the Natural Resources Conservation large organization we have a t Pasaribu have been promoted into Department (BKSDA). Tito was comprehensive program covering the positions of Field Director and instrumental in making an agreement areas as diverse as research, a Operations Manager and Vicky between GPOCP, BKSDA, the awareness and law enforcement, n Dauncey has joined us in the Police, FFI – Indonesia and Gunung and yet are flexible and dynamic, newly created position of Palung National Park Authorities to maintaining good relationships with s Development Director. better enforce wildlife protection our government and community laws. From this agreement resulted partners. Tito Indrawan, born and raised the first ever prosecution of an He is enjoying the role, the new R in , is GPOCP’s orangutan trader in Pontianak in challenges brought by it and the longest serving staff member 2010. In 2009 Tito became Manager chance to concentrate on the work e having joined us in 1999 as a of our Wildlife and Habitat of GPOCP as a whole. Tito is volunteer while studying at Protection Program, one of our two s On Friday the 6th of April a optimistic for the future, and will Universitas Tanjungpura in main programs, and then was most male orangutan was rescued continue to play a critical role in c Pontianak. After finishing recently promoted to Field Director from a snare in the district of directing GPOCP’s efforts to university, Tito became an official early this year, taking the place of u Ketapang, West Kalimantan, conserve and their GPOCP staff member as an Andrew de Sousa. where GPOCP works. Pelansi, habitat in Ketapang, Kayong Utara assistant for our Environmental e named after the area he was and beyond. Education Program and a year found in, had been trapped in a d later became Coordinator for our snare for 10 days, caught by his Continued on page six Campaign project. hand, without access to food or water. When GPOCP partner, b International Animal Rescue Indonesia, an NGO working in 5y the area to rescue and rehabilitate orangutans, was finally alerted to the situation G they arrived to find him in critical condition. Pelansi’s arm P O 321

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Monalisa Pasaribu was born and was sent to locations such as communications and working towards raised in Ketapang. Studying Forest Simeulue, Kutacane, Wamena, shaping GPOCP through essential Management at Universitas Pegunungan Tengah, Asmat and activities such as program evaluation Tanjungpura in Pontianak, she was Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. and capacity building. Having worked part of the team that conducted the in conservation for five years, primarily first orangutan population census in Mona returned to Ketapang in late in Asia and West Africa, she hopes to Gunung Palung National park back 2011 and was happy to join GPOCP, be able to use her experiences to in 2001. Her passion for as she believes the organization has a strengthen and develop the organization conservation and environmental proven commitment to the as a whole and bring a fresh, new angle education continued to expand as conservation of orangutans in West to the work of GPOCP. she joined Sibolangit Environmental Kalimantan, and a unique perspective Education Center in North Sumatra gained through our integration of and Bodogol Environmental research and environmental education Vicky is happy to be back working in Education Center in West Java at the same location. She believes her Kalimantan as it was there that her where she conducted environmental past experiences provide valuable passion for great ape conservation was campaigns in schools surrounding inputs toward the development of a born nearly eight years ago, as a conservation areas from 2002 strong organization, which can volunteer, and later an employee, of the through 2004. strengthen the already excellent Orangutan Foundation UK in Central relationship the organization has with Kalimantan. Since then she has worked Mona returned to Sumatra shortly our partners. all over the world specializing in integrated conservation and after the Indian Ocean tsunami in development and primate conservation. 2004, where she volunteered with Vicky Dauncey joined GPOCP in She earned an MSc in Conservation humanitarian NGOs providing May as Development Director. In Science and most recently worked in assistance to victims in Simeulue, this newly created position her focus Sierra Leone managing a national South and Southwest Aceh. will be on fundraising, Working with MSF and Oxfam she community-based chimpanzee conservation program. Vicky is enthusiastic about her new position and looks forward to continuing the fantastic work already taking place, while also being able to assist GPOCP in further developing and strengthening our work; moving ever closer to securing the future of the wild orangutan in West Kalimantan.

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123 Pelansi’s Rescue

Using Alternative Livelihoods to Help Mitigate Conflict

th On Friday the 6 of April a male Nothing could be done to save Environmental Education and orangutan was rescued from a snare Pelansi’s decayed hand; so he Alternative Livelihoods Program is in the district of Ketapang, West underwent surgery to amputate his to mitigate the conflicts that arise Kalimantan, where GPOCP works. lower arm, just below the elbow joint. when orangutans and humans are Pelansi, named after the area he was He is making a good recovery, and if he forced to live close together in ever found in, had been trapped in a snare continues to do so should be able to be decreasing patches of forest. for 10 days, caught by his hand, released back into the wild once a GPOCP works to raise awareness without access to food or water. location is identified that is safe from about issues such as the dangers of When GPOCP partner, International snares and other man-made threats. snares and the importance of forest Animal Rescue Indonesia, an NGO Although Pelansi’s recovery is and orangutan conservation. working in the area to rescue and miraculous, his story illustrates the rehabilitate orangutans, was finally plight of his species throughout Borneo alerted to the situation they arrived to and Sumatra. As a result of forest find him in critical condition. clearing for logging and large-scale Pelansi’s arm was infected and agriculture, Pelansi was driven into an decaying with septicemia, which had area where humans and wildlife are already spread throughout his body competing for space and food. One causing a dangerously high fever of important aim of GPOCP’s 104°F.

Many Thanks to Our Recent Funders

Recent Funders: Anonymous • Arcus Foundation • Conservation Food & Health Foundation • Orang Utan Republik Foundation • Potrero Nuevo Fund of Tides Foundation • Sea World Busch Gardens • US Fish & Wildlife Service • Wenner-Gren Foundation • Woodland Park Zoo 7

Make a Difference!

We hope that you will commit your support to the Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program working to help save the

Orangutans of Borneo, while Mission: The Gunung Palung Orangutan promoting conservation and Conservation Program's sustainable practices for future mission is to develop a human generations. community that is aware and motivated to conserve and protect the orangutan, Today the world is changing rapidly its habitat, and biodiversity and constantly. People realize that within the forest. some of the changes we have seen ORANGUTANS NEED YOU! have been detrimental to our environment. Others have created a Interested in supporting our work with a movement of awareness and action tax deductible gift?

to prevent future devastation. Donate by Check: GPOCP has inspired and created Checks should be made payable to Gunung local changes that have a global Palung Orangutan Conservation Program impact. We will continue to work and mailed to: PO Box 15680, Boston, MA 02215. Please include your name and mailing with local communities and address so we can acknowledge your gift. Visit our website at governments to promote sustainable www.SaveGPorangutans.org living practices, which will in turn Donate by Credit Card: to learn more about ways you create conservation awareness, and Visit our website at can help protect the ultimately protection for the www.SaveGPorangutans.org, which will endangered orangutan take you to a secure PayPal page. Orangutans of Gunung Palung. Newsletter prepared by:  GPOCP Jennifer Zolkos, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Graphic Designer U.S. Federal Tax ID Number: Andrea Durcik, 26-1380932 U.S. Administrative Director Victoria Dauncey, Development Director Dr. Cheryl Knott, Executive Director

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 Photo Credits: Orangutan photographs copyright Tim Laman; Pelansi photographs courtesy of IAR; All other photographs GPOCP staff. 8