Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) won two of the categories at the UpLink Trillion Trees Challenge 2020 that culminated at the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Summit. On the 21st-24th September 2020, six finalists presented their ideas to a multi-stakeholder panel of judges.
In the announcement on Thursday 24th September 2020, Chineyenwa Okoru Onu, Global Shaper of Accra Hub, representing the panel of judges, revealed the three winners of the UpLinkTrillion Trees Challenge: Inga Foundation, Reforestum & Ecosphere +, and BNF. These three winners are considered to generate innovative efforts to save forests.
“And also, we would like to announce the People’s Choice Award. And the award goes to Borneo Nature Foundation. Congratulation for the double award,” said Chineyenwa. ‘People’s Choice Award’ is an online poll conducted during the finale of the Trillion Trees Challenge.
Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, President of the Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad (AFPAT), emphasized the need for people, community, and technology to work together for our planet’s forests. “There is no vaccine for climate change,” added Hindou.
The UpLink Trillion Trees Challenge was launched earlier this year and has sourced over 250 entrepreneurial solutions looking at how to scale and accelerate forest conservation and restoration, green our cities, unlock 4IR technology for trees, and stimulate the forest economy – all of which are a contribution to deliver on the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The Trillion Trees Challenge culminated at the World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Summit 2020.
“Seeing all of the submissions to the UpLink Trillion Trees Challenge shows the willingness of young people and eco-preneurs to roll out the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration. Each and every person who has put forward a proposal is part of the solution,” stated Inger Andersen, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Simon Husson, Chief Executive of BNF, expressed his gratitude for the award that was given to BNF. “Over the past 10 years”, he continued, “BNF has developed and refined planting methods and techniques to reforest areas of degraded peatland, planted more than 30,000 seedlings, and established community seed nurseries in villages next to Central Kalimantan’s remaining tropical rainforests”.
“Now, with the experience, knowledge, and skills developed over the last decade, we are scaling up projects to plant more than one million trees, while recognizing that carbon sequestration and habitat restoration for endangered species, such as orangutans, go hand in hand with empowering local communities, and the creation of a green economy,” he said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Director of BNF Indonesia, Yunsiska Ermiasi, expressed her gratitude to the partners who contributed to the success of the conservation activities carried out by BNF, including UPT LLG CIMTROP University of Palangka Raya, and the Community Nursery in Kereng Bangkirai and Sabaru villages.
“Do not forget, our gratitude also to the field team in Sebangau, Central Kalimantan, who really helped reforestation activities to continue and increase the achievement of the number of seeds planted,” added Yunsiska.
Photo by Yohanes Prahara | BNF | UPT LLG CIMTROP
