Training in organic farming

In the first week of June, bio.inspecta AG, a Swiss based certification company, held a training programme in organic regulation of the EU. The aim of the course was to enable the participants in inspection and certification services for organic producers outside the EU to be able to enter the European market. With our support, several participants from Indonesia attended the training programme: Two officials from the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, two representants of LeSOS and Yenny Lucia, Organic Manager at the PPLH Bahorok.

Following the training programme, the officials from the Ministry met their counterparts from the Swiss Agriculture Departement to discuss policies and the development of organic products in both countries. In order to enter the EU market however, Indonesia will have to get the EU certification.

To learn more about the training programme and the meeting, please read the full report.

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Orangutan survey results

The first phase of an extensive orangutan survey in the Gunung Leuser National Park has been accomplished in May. Between 1100 and 1800 Sumatran orangutans were found to live in the eastern part of the National Park below 1500 metres asl. Dr. Serge Which from SOCP presented these preliminary results as part of a workshop organised by the Park Authority BBTNGL and UNESCO in Medan. The secons phase has already started and will last until November 2010. When the survey will be completed, Gunung Leuser will be the filrst National Park in Indonesia to posses the a comprehensive database on the orangutan.

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New information center on Sumatra

On April 23, YEL chairman dr Sofyan Tan, and the head of the North Sumatran Conservation Agency (BKSDA North Sumatra), Ir. Djati Witjaksono Hadi, signed a  contract of cooperation to establish the new Nature Conservation Information Center (abbreviated in Indonesian to PIKA) in the Sibolangit Nature Recreation Park, an former botanical garden located near to SOCP's existing orangutan quarantine centre. In partnership with BKSDA, PanEco and YEL will together renovate existing facilities, establish education displays (including some ‚living' displays), regenerate the forest plants, promote research and develop environmental education programmes to increase awareness of the rainforest, orangutans and other wild species. The new center will promote Sibolangit and conservation in the region at a local, national and international level.

TWA Sibolangit was formerly a highly regarded botanical garden, linked to the well known Kebun Raya in Bogor, Java, before it fell into disrepair. YEL and PanEco feel it would be highly desirable to attempt to regain some of Sibolangit's former glory. At the same time, it possesses enormous potential for educating local North Sumatrans.  Residents of the nearby sprawling city of Medanseldom - if ever - visit the Province's natural rainforests. This readily accessible new center will offer them the opportunity to better experience and appreciate the forest environment, and to learn more about its ecology and conservation. Its location near to the SOCP orangutan quarantine center in Batu Mbelin also  offers an excellent opportunity to inform visitors about the important work being carried out in this strictly closed  facility. 

Give rainforests a break!

Rainforests are being torn down to grow palm oil, an exellent example of which is PanEco's figth to save the Tripa forest. But while many companies such as Unilever and Kraft are making efforts to disassociate themselves from the worst practices of the palm oil industry, Swiss based Nestlé has done diddly squat. Meanwhile, the forests of Indonesia are disappearing faster than anywhere else on the planet, devastating local communities, pushing endangered species like orangutans closer to extinction and accelerating climate change.

It's time Nestlé took a break from turning a blind eye to what its palm oil suppliers are up to! Support the campaign now and write an e-mail to Nestlé CEO Paul Bulche!

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New Managing Director

PanEco Foundation has a new managing director. Our board of directors appointed Kaspar Hitz, who will take over office on March 8. Regina Frey will remain President of the PanEco Foundation and responsible for the operational management of our projects in Indonesia.

Two years ago, Kaspar Hitz left his position as Chief Marketing Officer in an international company and took over management of our sanctuary for birds of prey. As an experienced ornithologist he successfully managed the sanctuary and simultaneously supported PanEco in project management. Due to his former position, he has profound knowledge in management and leadership. With Kaspar Hitz, we are well equipped to take on the challenges in the coming years, especially the buildup of the new nature center near the Thurauen.

We wish Kaspar Hitz all the best and a good start in his new post!

The REDD Ape

Our documentary on orangutans and climate change - a contribution to the REDD-day in Copenhagen.

Orangutans and local communities have saved peat land and rainforest for millennia. Now short term economic greed is destroying it in decades, releasing huge carbon stores and threatening humanity itself. Caught into the middle of the public discourse "on what to do?" to save the climate, with no concrete actions, orangutans populations are quickly vanishing, a genocide. What might think the orangutans, probably the most intelligent non-human ape of its human cousin? The documentary provides a clear orangutan's answer.

"The REDD Ape" will be showed for the first time ever on Monday 14 around 3 p.m. in Copenhagen during the film festival at Danish Film Institute as part of the REDD day during the Climate Change Conference.

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Greasy Palms

A new documentary of the paradigm shift project focuses on the massive impact of palm oil plantations on local communities and environment in Indonesia.Watch the film here!

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Annual Report 2009

The new Annual Report 2009 has just been published. Read about our achievements in Indonesia and Switzerland and our goals for 2010.

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Tripa: Current situation

The newest report on the peat swamp forest of Tripa assesses the current situation, trends and the possibility of restoration.

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