Orangutan Caring Scholarship for Students of University of Palangka Raya
The Orangutan Caring Scholarship (OCS) is an initiative to sponsor talented university students in Indonesia. The OCS programme aims to build capacity by enabling young people to pursue higher education, inspiring a new generation of conservation leaders. Orangutan Republik Foundation (OURF) is collaborating with the Forestry Department of Palangka Raya University (UPR) and the Borneo […]
Tropical Rainforest in the Highlands of Borneo
Hill and montane forests occur at elevations of 1,000 meters above sea level, and can be found across almost all of Indonesia’s largest islands: Sumatra, Indonesian Borneo (Kalimantan), Java, Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara, Maluku and Papua. In Borneo, highland forests grow mainly in the north and are dominated by dipterocarp tree species. Highland forests contain a […]
Heath Forest and its Biological Diversity
Kerangas forest, also known as heath forest, typically grows in transitional lowland zones between peat-swamp and hilly dipterocarp forest. Heath forest is generally found on quartz sand and podzol soil, which has low nutrient levels and a low pH. The distribution of heath forests in Indonesia spans across the islands of Sumatra, Belitung, Singkep and […]
Peat-swamp Forest are Important Carbon Stores
Peat-swamp forests are moist tropical forests that, in their natural state, remain flooded year-round. This forest type is formed over thousands of years by the accumulation of organic matter (such as plant debris, animal carcasses, etc.) that does not fully decompose. The accumulated mass of organic matter forms peat deposits up to 20 meters deep […]
People and Plants of Sebangau
Dayak history is richly intertwined with nature. Many plants found in the Bornean rainforest have traditional uses, including as medicines, tools, and ritual items. Knowledge of these plants has been passed down orally from generation to generation, with very limited formal documentation. The Dayak communities in Borneo’s Sebangau landscape have a strong connection to their […]
Wild Cat Research in Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo
Central Kalimantan is a province of Indonesian Borneo. The region is rich with biodiversity, and its wild cats are no exception. The Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) Indonesia recently joined forces with the Department of Forestry at the University of Palangka Raya (UPR) to host a public lecture on the ‘Research Potential of Wild Cats in […]
Getting to Know Bioacoustics
Did you know that sound waves can be analysed as a biodiversity monitoring tool? Let’s talk bioacoustics! Bioacoustics is a research field that uses audio recording devices to study species and ecosystems. This is less intensive than many traditional field methods and allows us to listen in on wild animals without creating too much disturbance. […]
Six Regions in Central Kalimantan Granted Social Forestry Permits
The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo (Jokowi) passed the Social Forestry Decree for Agrarian Reform Land Objects and a customary forest decree, which has subsequently been granted to the Deputy Governor of Central Kalimantan, Edy Pratowo, and six villages in Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. Kamaludin, Head of the Kahayan Tengah Production Forest […]
Guarding The Ancestral Forest “Fields”
“The spirit will never fade, even though our step may stumble,” laughed Kamison, as he made his way up the muddy road. For Kamison, who belongs to Borneo’s indigenous Dayak people, the forest is his “field” – a source of livelihood passed down by his ancestors from long ago. The forest provides food, medicinal plants […]
Preparing for El Niño
El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) refers to the cycle of warm and cold Sea Surface Temperatures (SST) of the tropical central and eastern Pacific Ocean. These warm and cold phases are known as El Niño, and La Niña, respectively. El Niño events typically come around every 3-7 years (~5 years on average) and can last […]