Borneo Nature Foundation 2021 Kaleidoscope

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, HERE ARE SOME OF OUR KEY ACHIEVEMENTS THIS YEAR

Another year has passed under the shadow of the Covid-19 pandemic, which still poses a major challenge to us all. However, this year we were able to resume many of our activities, including habitat restoration, community development, social forestry and education, in accordance with government guidance and the latest health protocols. Borneo Nature Foundation has been able to do our activities again.

We would like to say thank you for all the support we received in 2021, from donors, partners, supporters and the stakeholders who work with us. We hope that in 2022 Covid-19 rates will continue to ease and we can do even more for nature and our communities.

Here are the highlights of some of our activities throughout 2021:

CIMTROP – BNF LAUNCHES DRONE CENTER

Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF), together with UPT LLG CIMTROP (Centre For International Cooperation In Sustainable Management of Tropical Peatland) and Liverpool John Moores University, are utilising drone technology to mitigate peatland fires.

LAUNCHING GUIDELINES FOR INDIGENOUS LAW COMMUNITIES

The Provincial Government (Pemprov) of Central Kalimantan together with the Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) Indonesia inaugurated the Launch of the Guidelines for the Recognition of the Existence of the Indigenous Law Communities (MHA) of Central Kalimantan. The launch of the guidelines took place at the Eka Hapakat Hall, Governor’s Office, Palangka Raya, Thursday (28/01/21).

The book that was launched will serve as a guideline for the Central Kalimantan Provincial Government as well as for Regency and City Governments throughout Central Kalimantan, and especially for the MHA Formation Committees in each region, in carrying out the identification, verification and validation processes of the MHA proposal.

LEGAL CERTAINTY FOR SOCIAL FORESTRY MANAGEMENT IN PULANG PISAU

The Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) together with the Central Kalimantan Provincial Forestry Service (Kalteng) and the Central Kalimantan Forest Management Unit (KPH), held a socialization event on social forestry licensing in Palangka Raya City, on Tuesday (9/2/2021). In the event which was held in the Central Kalimantan KPH Office Hall, a Decree of Social Forestry Permit Holders was handed over to 18 village heads in Kahayan Tengah District, Pulang Pisau Regency. This event was an effort to provide legal certainty for activities carried out pre- and post- social forestry permit, according to the schemes, such as village forests, community forests, and customary forests.

BIODIVERSITY IDENTIFICATION AND MONITORING TRAINING WITH SEBANGAU NATIONAL PARK

Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) Indonesia together with the Sebangau National Park Agency (BTNS), conducted a training session on identification, inventories, and monitoring of biodiversity, for the Sebangau National Park Forest Ecosystem Controller (PEH) functional staff. This two-day training event was held at the BTNS Office and Sungai Koran Resort Sebangau Hulu on March 10-11, 2021.

The participants of the training event included 15 functional personnel of Sebangau National Park. Acting as facilitators are BNF field staff in Sebangau, BNF Camera Trap Coordinator Adul, BNF Biodiversity Monitoring Coordinator Iwan, and Forestry and Orangutan Survey Coordinator Santiano.

HEART OF BORNEO EXPEDITION IN BARITO ULU

In the midst of the wet season from April to early June 2021, the Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) Team conducted an expedition to the Barito Ulu forest, in the Murung Raya Regency, Central Kalimantan, a piece of jungle at the southern tip of the Heart of Borneo zone. This incredible expedition is experienced by 8 BNF staff.

The team’s main mission was to install camera traps on the other side of the river (second survey area). Installation this time was going to take a relatively long time, so, sufficient food, equipment, medicines, ponchos, ropes, torches and water was to be carried to prepare for a late return to camp.

RAINFOREST FESTIVAL

Rainforest: Live is a day of social media activity bringing live wildlife sightings to people from rainforests around the world. This annual event is designed to give people a glimpse into what it’s like to explore a jungle and observe BNF’s conservation activities. It is hoped that Rainforest: Live will be a reminder of all the treasures found in these diverse and unique habitats, and the reasons they’re worth fighting for. People will see orangutans, gibbons, birds, leopards and many other magnificent species they may have never heard of before.

Rainforest: Live was initiated by the Borneo Nature Foundation in 2014 and is now going into its fifth year, after a three-year hiatus. This year, 17 conservation organizations from around the globe have confirmed their participation in the event, reaching millions of people on social media. In 2017, the hashtag #RainforestLive reached over 2.5 million people. This year, we’re not only going Live from the forest, but also from Palangka Raya, with lots of performance, from theatrical to music performances from our Sobat Natura in Palangka Raya.

FOUR UPR STUDENTS AWARDED ORANGUTAN CARING SCHOLARSHIP 2021

After going through a series of rigorous selections, four students from the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Palangka Raya (UPR) have been awarded the Orangutan Caring Scholarship (OCS) 2021. The four students, all coming from the forestry department are: Immanuelo Oasis, Dian Atma Sari, Viona Nadya Situmorang, and Tallu Lembang.

OCS is a scholarship program, implemented in Central Kalimantan, aims to encourage the younger generation to care about forest conservation its biodiversity. This scholarship, initiated in 2018 by the Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) is the result of a collaboration with the Orangutan Republic Foundation (ORF), The Orangutan Project (TOP), and the Andrew Sabin Family (ASF).

IN LOVING MEMORY OF YUNSISKA ERMIASI

On the 5^th of August 2021, at 6.45pm Western Indonesian Time, our beloved Yunsiska Ermiasi passed away from COVID-19. Siska, as she was known, was a Deputy Director for the Borneo Nature Foundation Indonesia (BNF). She passed away while being treated at the Muhammadiyah Hospital, in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia; and her body was buried at Pal 12 Cemetery in Palangka Raya on the 6^th of August 2021.

There are few people as kind, generous and warm-hearted as Siska. Her family, friends and the whole BNF family around the world have been deeply saddened and shocked by her death, especially as it was so sudden and unexpected. Losing her has left a great void in our hearts, both personally and professionally. We will try to continue what she has started. She was an important conservation advocate in Kalimantan. She was an inspiring and very humble person. A Dayak woman from a humble background, who gave her short life to make a real and lasting impact on society and conservation in Kalimantan.

BNF will continue her work and her legacy, and will be setting up a fund in her name to support Dayak women in conservation. Rest in peace, Siska! You were a shining light in this world and will never be forgotten!

BNF SUPPORTS PALANGKA RAYA CITY GOVERNMENT VACCINATION ACTIVITIES

The City Government (Pemkot) of Palangka Raya together with the City Resort Police (Polresta) of Palangka Raya, Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) Indonesia and PO. Logos held a first stage of Covid-19 vaccination at the PO Office yard. Logos Palangka Raya City, Tuesday (24/08/2021), 1,050 doses of Sinovac Vaccine have been distributed to the citizens of Palangka Raya City who had not yet received the first vaccine dose.

GEMA NATURA: WORLD ORANGUTAN DAY & OUFEST 2021

Together with Forum Orangutan Indonesia (FORINA) and few other NGOs, BNF Indonesia completed the mission to made this year’s celebration of Orangutan Day as a continuous relay festivals and events called OUFest 2021, stretched from the beginning of August until beginning of September, with the peak of the celebration on the Orangutan Day at 19^th August 2021. This year, the World Orangutan Day and OUFest is joined by more than 50 NGOs and communities.

LAUNCHING ‘SI POPY’ AND ‘SI OBO’ COMICS

On September 1^st, BNF Indonesia launched ‘Si Popy’, the character of Popy’s Adventure Series. Popy the little orangutan will tell our Sobat Natura many things about orangutans. Then, on the October 24^th, BNF Infonesia launched another character named Owa Borneo or ‘Si Obo’, right on the celebration of Gibbon Day 2021. Follow their stories on our social media, as they both take us to the depth of Borneo jungle and see how precious these two species are.

FOREST FIRE ALERT, JOINT TEAM CLEANS SEBANGAU RIVER PATH

A path-cleaning activity was held on the Sebangau River, Palangka Raya City, Central Kalimantan, by the Joint Team from the Patrol Team of the Center for International Cooperation in Sustainable Management of Tropical Peatland (CIMTROP) of the University of Palangka Raya, the Fire Care Society (MPA) of Kereng Bangkirai and Sabaru village, and the Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) Indonesia.

STRENGTHENING PREVENTION OF FOREST FIRE IN SEBANGAU NATIONAL PARK THROUGH SMART PATROL TRAINING

To strengthen prevention of forest fire in Sebangau National Park, Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (Ditjen KSDAE) together with the Sebangau National Park Office (BTNS) and the Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) Indonesia, held Spatial Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Tools (SMART) Patrol Training, October 21-23, 2021 in Palangka Raya.

The training participants consisted Fire Care Community (MPA) Kereng Bangkirai members, and forest police and Forest Fire Control Brigade (Brigdalkarhut) members of Sebangau National Park. This activity was attended by the Head of the Sub-Directorate of Conservation Area Management Planning at the Directorate of Conservation Areas of KLHK Ratna Hendratmoko, Head of BTNS Andi M Kadhafi, and BNF Indonesia Conservation Team.

TWO NEW COMMUNITY NURSERIES IN HABARING HURUNG VILLAGE

Together with the Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) Indonesia, Sebangau National Park Office (BTNS) has formed two community nurseries in the village of Habaring Hurung, National Park management Section (SPTN) I of Sebangau National Park, Palangka Raya. These two community nurseries (CN) are each run by eight people from the Habaring Hurung Fire Care Community (MPA).

BPDAS HL KAHAYAN DONATED 52,520 SEEDS FOR ECOSYSTEM RECOVERY

BPDAS HL Kahayan is collaborating with the Sebangau National Park Agency (BTNS) and the Indonesian Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) to plant native trees in the Sebangau National Park (TN) area. 52,520 seeds were provided by BPDASHL, consisting of pulai, belangeran and jelutung tree seedlings.

The seeds were customarily handed over by the Head of BPDAS HL Kahayan, Supriyanto Sukmo Sejati, to representatives of the Fire Care Society (MPA) Habaring Hurung at the Tumbang Nusa Permanent Nursery, Pulang Pisau Regency.

INTRODUCING THE YOUNG GENERATION TO PERMACULTURE AND ECOTOURISM

On October 28^th, BNF Indonesia Rungan Team were going to Permakultur Kalimantan and Kahui Project with some of our friends from Parahangan Village tourism awareness group (Kelompok Sadar Wisata/Pokdarwis Desa Parahangan).

We were learning together about permaculture and ecotourism; what is permaculture and ecotourism? How does it works? How to implementing those? And safety guide for river ecotourism. On that occasion, BNF Communication Team also shared knowledge and experiences to participants about how to use social media and communication strategy to support the ecotourism activities they are developing in their village.

HARI KONSERVASI ALAM NASIONAL (NATIONAL NATURE CONSERVATION DAY)

To promote the beauty and richness of Central Kalimantan’s nature, wildlife, and culture, on 22-24^th November, BNF Indonesia joined Sebangau National Park and Central Kalimantan Natural Resources and Conservation Office to celebrate HKAN (Hari Konservasi Alam Nasional or National Nature Conservation Day) in National Parks Festival which held in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.

ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION PROGRAM IN SEBANGAU NATIONAL PARK

In October-November, BNF Indonesia together with CIMTROP UPR planted 40,000 seedlings in the Ruslan Canal, Peat Forest Nature Laboratory (LAHG), a special zone within the Sebangau National Park. This planting is to support the ecosystem restoration program in Sebangau National Park which was launched by the Sebangau National Park Office.

SHARING INSPIRATION IN PREVENTING CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH WRITING

BNF Indonesia and Sebangau National Park Office held a writing course for young people in Central Kalimantan at the Fovere Hotel, Palangka Raya City between the 9^th and 11^th November 2021. There were 14 participants who participated in this training, consisting of BTNS staff, students from the Orangutan Caring Scholarship (OCS), New Generation Indonesia (Genbi) Central Kalimantan, and BNF Indonesia staff.

The two-day training course was divided into two sessions: in-class training and field coverage, which was held in the Rosdy Abaza trekking area, Sungai Koran, in Sebangau National Park. Instructors for the training were Kompas Daily Editor, Mohammad Hilmi Faiq, and Kompas Daily Journalist in Central Kalimantan, Dionisius Tri Wibowo.

SEBANGAU CHILDREN FESTIVAL

The 2021 Sebangau Children’s Festival is an annual agenda of the Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) as a medium for conveying information about Environmental Education activities that have been carried out for one year with Sebangau Children and the Sebangau Ranger.

Since 2020 the Sebangau Children’s Festival has been held online due to the ongoing pandemic. So this time, the Sebangau Children’s Festival will still be held online or online with the concept of sharing videos of activities that can be done at home and using materials around the house, with the hope of inspiring other friends who watch and participate in the “Sebangau Children’s Festival”. 2021”.

BNF PODCAST SERIES: “YEAR-END ENVIRONTMENTAL REFLECTION OF CENTRAL KALIMANTAN 2021”

On the last month of 2021, BNF Indonesia held a a talk show discussing about this year’s environtmental highlights such as floods and it’s ecological and human factors. Through the form of a podcast that broadcasted live on BNF’s Facebook account, by bringing in three competent sources to discuss the theme seriously but casually. The speakers are Hendrik Segah Ph.D from Universitas Palangka Raya, Adyaksa Prasidapati S.T. from Central Kalimantan Provincial Environment Agency, Agnes Ferisa S.Hut. as Deputy Director of BNF Indonesia, and hosted by Mohamad Burhanudin, Manager of Communications BNF Indonesia.

You can watch our BNF’s Kaleidoscope 2021 on Youtube