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Image 1: © Neil Ever Osborne / WWF-US : Isong, a honey farmer from the Talang Mamak tribe, attempts to collect honey from a Sialong tree at, Jambi Province, Sumatra, Indonesia.

Promoting Ecosystem Preservation and Restoration in Sumatra, Indonesia

Sumatra is among the most biodiverse regions globally, home to iconic species such as elephants, tigers, rhinos, and orangutans. However, it has one of the highest deforestation rates worldwide, fueled by a significant global demand for commodities such as palm oil and rubber. The Bukit Tigapuluh landscape, also known as “Thirty Hills”, comprises the largest remaining concentration of low-lying forest blocks on dry soils in Sumatra, storing an estimated 11.5 MtCO2e (metric ton of carbon dioxide equivalent) of forest carbon that is critical to slow down the impact of climate change. It also provides environmental services and natural resources that are critical to the survival of indigenous tribes and local communities.

Image 2: A glimpse of the communities and biodiversity of the Bukit Tigapuluh Concession
Together with the Frankfurt Zoological Society and The Orangutan Project, WWF founded PT Alam Bukit Tigapuluh (PT AB30), a concession company focusing on restoring parts of the concession that have been deforested. The group will also set aside some parts for income generation to benefit local and indigenous communities and support the forestry operations, all while protecting the majority of the forest to benefit both people and nature.  
Image 3: A map of the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park and the PT ABT Ecosystem Restoration Concession

The concession seeks to achieve the following goals:

  1. Monitor forest carbon stocks in the standing forest to show positive impact in emission reductions and ecosystem restoration practices.
  2. Strengthen protection against illegal logging and encroachment.
  3. Take critical steps to restore over 38,000 hectares of rainforest and improve wildlife connectivity.
  4. Partner with local communities, including two forest-dwelling indigenous tribes, to develop sustainable livelihoods.
  5. Conduct pilot activities and research into cost-effective, large-scale tropical reforestation of wildlife habitat.
Over a two-year period, Bank of Singapore (BoS), a wholly owned subsidiary of OCBC and Southeast Asia’s second largest bank, is sponsoring funds for WWF-Singapore to tackle the pressing issue of climate change and promote ecosystem preservation and restoration in Southeast Asia.
With the support of local communities, the initiative aims to restore degraded and burnt forest areas to improve connectivity for wildlife and protect important forest carbon stocks in the standing forest within the region.
The work will focus on a holistic approach that integrates environmental, social and economic aspects, to restore forest and strengthen initiatives against illegal logging and encroachment, address climate change and improve the wellbeing of local communities. By supporting the forestry operations, the initiative aims to create lasting positive impact for nature, people and the climate.

If you’re interested in exploring a similar partnership with WWF, contact:

Mayj C. Tolentino 
Director of Growth and  Partnerships
E-mail: mtolentino@wwf.sg

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