20'000 sustainable oil palms

PanEco and YEL developed a pilot study to promote oil palm plantation on fallow land or degraded land on the west coast of Aceh province. This pilot study aims to encourage small holders and oil palm estates to develop new oil palm plantations on fallow land and mineral soil as an alternative to clearing rainforest.
Within the framework of the pilot study, 100 hectares of fallow land will be planted in Nagan Raya district, encouraging the utilization of fallow land on mineral soil and reducing the pressure on the precious coastal peat swamp forests of Tripa.

To date, 62 local smallholder farmers participate in the programme at two locations: 52 farmers work on 79 hectares in Alue Billie, and 10 other farmers work on 20 hectares in its neighbouring village. The farmers in Alue Billie established the farmers group “Makmur Lestari” (sustainable prosperity), while their neighbours founded TIBA (Ternak Ikan, Bebek dan Ayan), the Farmers Group for Fish, Ducks, and Chicken Farming. Approximately 53 hectares have already been cleared and the remaining 25 hectares will be ready for plantation in November. On 27 hectares, seedlings have been planted. Per hectare we plant 141 seedlings, which is the optimal density for oil palm plantations. Thus around 20.000 oil palm seedlings have been planted so far. Based on biodiversity assessments, 2.79 hectares of the pilot study area in Alue Billie have been allocated as conservation area and will not be planted with oil palms.

The pilot study has been started in May 2009 and is expected to be complete in April 2011. It is part of the Biodiversity and Agricultural Commodities Program BACP and was developed to promote sustainable palm oil production by preventing the expansion of plantations into orangutan habitat, finding acceptable alternatives for palm-oil producers and helping small holders to implement Better Management Practices. Also, palm oil cultivation under our pilot study is based on RSPO Principles and Guidelines.

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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 film on the palm oil problem

Orangutans are facing extinction because the rainforest is being destroyed for palm oil plantations. Swiss supermarkets are at the forefront to achieve sustainable palm oil supplies. Watch the video!

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New information center on Sumatra

PanEco and YEL will establish a new Nature Conservation Information Center (PIKA) in Sibolangit Nature Recreation Park, North Sumatra. Teh Center will be established over the next five years in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Agency BKSDA.

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