IUFRO 2024: Explore Conservation International's Restoration Work

Community-led Restoration of Dry Tropical Forest in Bali, Indonesia

Since 20218 CI worked with Bali Province government, local Forest Management Unit, and village government to improve management of ±455 ha dry tropical forest on the leeward slope of Mount Agung, in Karangasem, Bali. The forest is habitat for threatened species like Sunda pangolin, and Malayan porcupine, and critical for the resilience of the local forest-bound community. But it was degraded and constantly threatened by illegal logging and unsustainable use of fire in clearing adjacent farmlands. CI and government partners facilitated the designation of Dukuh Village Forest under the national Social Forestry program for this area. A community-based forest management body, called LPHD Anugerah Wisesa, was established to manage the area. After series of capacity building and assistances, LPHD Anugerah Wisesa improved management of this area through various measures such as rigorous forestry planning, regular patrol, managing community wild harvesting of fodder to be more sustainable, and developing ecotourism. Assisting natural regeneration through trial of applied nucleation was also implemented. Threats to the forest have been successfully reduced, allowing the vegetation to naturally recover and thrive.

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Contributors: Adi Mahardika, Iwan Dewantama, Hanggar Prasetio, Agus Sumberdana, Ary Pratiwi

Participatory Mapping as a Key Process to Improve Forest Protection Through Rights and Area Recognition of the Indigenous Communities in South Sorong, Southwest Papua.

The district of Konda in South Sorong regency of Southwest Papua, Indonesia, comprises forests ecosystems with high value for biodiversity and irrecoverable carbon, and home to four indigenous sub-tribes; Gemna, Nakna, Afsya, and Yaben. This area is classified partly as Convertible Production Forest, partly as Non-forest Estate, making it prone to conversion for non-forestry use. Agrarian conflict unfolded, due to private investments that proposed forest and non-forestry utilization while local indigenous communities demanded for recognition of their rights and area. From 2022 to 2023, Konservasi Indonesia worked with local stakeholders to facilitate indigenous participatory mapping of these four sub-tribes. The mapping methodology employed ArcGIS ecosystem’s tools, with area demarcation based on important places for subsistence and livelihood (such as sago forest, hunting ground, etc.), for indigenous identity (places of historical importance, ancestral heritage, etc.) and of ecological importance (spring, river, key habitat for wildlife). The produced maps that were rigorously consolidated among neighbouring communities, together with indigenous profile documents, advocacy works by NGO partners, and local government willingness to support, were the keys to official recognition that these four indigenous communities received in June 6th, 2024.

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Contributors: Raimer Helweldery, Nugraha Maulana, Insan Fahmi, Sry Wahyuni, Anurag Ramachandra, Kelle Koenig, Adi Mahardika, Meity Mongdong, Fitri Hasibuan

Green Wall Program in West Java, Indonesia

The Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park within the Gedepahala landscape in West Java is the upstream of four watersheds, namely Ciliwung, Cisadane, Citarum, and Cimandiri. The landscape is producing 213 billion litres of water per year provided essential freshwater to 30 million people who live in surrounding cities, including Jakarta. In 2008, the Green Wall Program, initiated by Ministry of Environment and Forestry, started to manage the extended land within the Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park. Conservation International (CI) supported the initiative, and starting from 2022, Konservasi Indonesia, the main partner of CI in Indonesia, continue the works. The program aims to plant the trees to create a “green wall” of vegetation to secure the forest borders. In the long run, the reforestation of degraded areas will preserve critical watershed areas and helps ensure a steady supply of clean water for communities in surrounding areas.

Contributors : Wira Ary Ardana, Fitri Hasibuan, Anton Ario, Latipah Syaepulloh Photos / link to photos: IUFRO - West Java (Indonesia)

Ecosystem Extent and Important Ecosystem Mapping for Conservation Prioritization in West Papua, Indonesia

In 2015, West Papua Province (currently split into two provinces: Southwest Papua and West Papua) declared as Conservation Province in Indonesia, this initiative follows the 2014 Rio Branco Declaration by the governors of 13 provinces in Latin America and Asia. Since then, Konservasi Indonesia and Conservation International supported the provincial commitments of the “Manokwari Declaration” and “Conservation Province”. From 2022 to 2023, Konservasi Indonesia worked with local governments to develop ecosystem extent and important ecosystem maps that were compliant with System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) standards and aligned with Indonesian policy. The ecosystem extent map containing 127 ecosystem types and over 23,000 ecosystem assets for the province of West Papua. This map provides a more detailed representation of the biological diversity in West Papua. To assess the important ecosystems, we applied the official government methodology and identified 7,096,295 hectares of important ecosystems. These results were intended to support conservation prioritization and development of the provincial biodiversity strategy.

Contributors : Timothy Wright, Anurag Ramachandra, Sry Wahyuni, Insan Fahmi

Latin America reforestation strategy: the importance of productive private areas for the conservation of natural capital

TIG is committed to investing in a portfolio with 50% of the area under reduced-impact forestry and 50% under conservation/restoration interventions. With a role in advising the Foundation to fulfill this commitment according to robust scientific analysis. Strong monitoring, reporting and verification routines are/will be implemented to include the landscape approach in the decision-making process. Conservation International Brazil participates as an Impact Adviser, providing external evaluations according to the impact criteria defined with TIG. The initial stages consist of a pre-assessment of the properties to be acquired by the strategy, such as identifying land ownership inconsistencies, water issues, forest connectivity, assessments of possible impacts on protected areas and among other various indicators. The first project in the portfolio began in 2023 and is the one with the most advanced stages, a property of approximately 24,000 hectares in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. In this first case, approximately 8,900 hectares were set aside for restoration/conservation, corresponding to 37% of the property. With assisted natural regeneration, direct planting and conservation practices, it is possible to see areas that are beginning to regenerate and satisfactory results in terms of the increase in fauna and flora.

Learn more: Link 1 | Link 2

Contributors: CI-Brazil, Mauricio Bianco, Lilian Vendrametto, Bruno Coutinho, Ludlima Pugliese, Akel Saliba, Maria Isabel

Building a Sustainable Supply Chain in Tapanuli Selatan as a Model for North Sumatera

More than 60 percent of South Tapanuli District is covered by forests, which serve as habitats for key wildlife species. This regency boasts High Conservation Value and High Carbon Stock areas, comprising 82% (358,811 ha) of its territory. Additionally, the region produces globally significant commodities such as coffee, cocoa, palm oil, rubber, and others (source: CI, 2018). Konservasi Indonesia in collaborating with strategic partners, supports the development agenda of the South Tapanuli Government to protect and manage forest ecosystems, with the assistance from Unilever. The support includes updating the Long-Term Forest Management Plan (RPHJP) for Forest Management Unit (KPH) X Unit XXVIII Padang Sidempuan. These collaborations decreased the deforestation rate in South Tapanuli by 40% from 2018 to 2022 (source: KI, 2023).

Contributors: Fitri Hasibuan, Teuku Youvan, Isner Manalu, Wira Ary Ardana, Sarmaidah Damanik, Aristya Tri Rahayu, Dedy Iskandar, Berto Naibaho, Ahsan Rabbani

Building a Sustainable Supply Chain in Tapanuli Selatan as a Model for North Sumatera

Wildlife monitoring using camera traps was conducted in the Batang Angkola Forest Ecosystem to support the updating of biodiversity data. Conservation International supported this project from 2021 to 2022, and Konservasi Indonesia, Conservation International’s main partner in Indonesia, continues the work. This landscape, known as a crucial part of the biodiversity corridor in North Sumatra, connects the forests of the Bukit Barisan Mountains to the Batang Toru Forest in North Sumatera and the Leuser Ecosystem in Aceh. The camera trap results during the June – August 2021 survey revealed several significant findings, including one critically endangered species (the pangolin) and one endangered species (the tapir). Additionally, three vulnerable species (the sun bear, binturong, and pig-tailed macaque) and two of the six Sumatran wild cat species (the Asiatic golden cat and the leopard cat) were recorded (source: Annual Report CI Indonesia, 2021). These findings serve as references for revising the Long-Term Forest Management Plan (RPHJP) for Forest Management Unit (KPH) X Unit XXVIII Padang Sidempuan.

Contributors: Fitri Hasibuan, Teuku Youvan, Isner Manalu, Wira Ary Ardana, Sarmaidah Damanik, Aristya Tri Rahayu, Dedy Iskandar, Berto Naibaho, Ahsan Rabbani

Converting Palm Oil Farm in Protected Forests into Agroforestry by Social Forestry Approach: Building a Sustainable Supply Chain in Tapanuli Selatan as a Model for North Sumatera

The Forest Farmers Group (KTH) Saroha in South Tapanuli District, North Sumatra Province, received a social forestry permit from the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry in March 2022. The 159-hectare area, previously a degraded limited-production forest planted with unproductive oil palms, is undergoing ecosystem restoration through the agroforestry concept. A 2.8-hectare agroforestry demonstration plot serves as a model garden for KTH Saroha to implement good agricultural practices (GAP) supported by Conservation International in 2020-2021, and continued by its main partner in Indonesia, Konservasi Indonesia. Syawal Lubis, a KTH Saroha member and the owner of the demo plot, transformed his oil palm plantation by planting various superior fruit seedlings, including durian, avocado, mango, betel nut, and mangosteen, totaling 687 seedlings.

Contributors: Fitri Hasibuan, Teuku Youvan, Isner Manalu, Wira Ary Ardana, Sarmaidah Damanik, Aristya Tri Rahayu, Dedy Iskandar, Berto Naibaho, Ahsan Rabban

Mitigation, Adaptation through Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods in Indonesia's Peat and Mangrove Ecosystems

Konservasi Indonesia supported the development agenda of the North Sumatra Provincial Government in developing a Protection and Management Plan for the Peatland Ecosystem, covering 524,885 hectares. This initiative of the Peat and Mangrove Ecosystems Project, supported by the Federal Government of Germany, aimed to restore 54% of the degraded peatland ecosystem, which was converted into palm oil plantations (source: RPPEG, 2023). The project piloted in Muara Batangtoru Subdistrict, South Tapanuli District, focused on mangrove restoration through the 3R activities—rewetting, revegetation, and revitalization. By rewetting the land and planting native vegetation, the goal is to revive the peatland, ensure a sustainable and healthy environment, protect biodiversity, and enhance carbon sequestration to combat climate change. A key component of this effort was the construction of canal blockages in peatland areas. These structures helped restore natural water levels, preventing degradation and peatland fires. The peatland ecosystem restoration activities involved community members in the restoration process and promote sustainable practices.

Contributors: Fitri Hasibuan, Isner Manalu, Susan Lusiana, Trisa Rembonita, Wira Ary Ardana, Aristya Tri Rahayu, Dedy Iskandar, Ahsan Rabbani, Sarmaidah Damanik, Sry Wahyuni, I Made Sanjaya

Loss of secondary vegetation in the coastal municipalities of Costa do Descobrimento and Extremo Sul – BA

Around 43.8% of secondary vegetation is lost by the twentieth year in the coastal municipalities of Costa do Descobrimento and Extremo Sul da Bahia. Of these, around 90% are located on private or undesignated public land. The recovery of the environment is gaining more space every year, although restoration actions have intensified in recent years, natural regeneration has always been present, so there have been fragments of secondary vegetation scattered around the world since the beginning. In the case of the study area, located in the Atlantic Forest, this presence is even greater, accounting for approximately 38% of all the vegetation identified in the landscape. With these significant figures, there is a clear need for monitoring and inspection to preserve these fragments. Geotechnologies are fundamental complementary elements to carry out this function, and after the advance of technology in these areas, together with improvements in the legislative sphere, the annual loss of secondary vegetation has been reduced since 2012. Not coincidentally, this was also the year in which the Forest Code was enacted, which, together with the CEFIR regulations in 2014, were responsible for showing the greatest downward trend and stabilization of secondary vegetation loss in the chosen time interval.

Contributors: Bruno Coutinho, Akel Saliba

Amazon Sustainable Landscapes (ASL); Global Environmental Facility (GEF); FUNBIO and CI Brasil

The initiative to work on sustainable landscapes is part of the regional program aimed specifically at the Amazon, involving Brazil, Colombia and Peru. The World Bank is the implementing agency for the program. In Brazil, the project is coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment, through the Secretariat of Biodiversity, in partnership with the State Environmental Bodies of the states of Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins , with federal bodies that work on the project's themes, such as the Brazilian Forest Service (SFB) and Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio). The initiative has Funbio as the executing entity for component 1 and Conservation International for components 2, 3 and 4. GEF is a public financier of nature conservation projects. It brings together 183 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations and the private sector. Value: US$60 million. Implementation: BIRD Executing Agencies: • Funbio, • International Conservation - CI-Brazil • CI-Brasil will execute three components of this initiative: Integrated Landscape Management; Policies Aimed at Sustainable Productive Landscapes and Recovery of Native Vegetation; Training and Regional Cooperation.

Learn more: Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3 

Contributors: Laura Lamonica, Neila Silva, Michele Rocha, Maria Eline Cruz, Bruno Coutinho