Paneco - Foundation for Sustainable Development and Intercultural Exchange

Bikers for Orang-Utans

A group of enthusiastic bikers from Hong Kong plans a several months long expedition across South-East Asia and Australia. During their journey, Wheel2Wheel will visit 10 different countries and raise funds and awareness for social and environmental issues. Therefore, the group has chosen one partner foundation from each country.

We are glad to announce, that PanEco and YEL were chosen as partners in Indonesia. Our commitment for the conservation of the Sumatran orangutan impressed Wheel2Wheel, so they will visit the SOCP in May 2011. The expedition will start in February.

To find out more about Wheel2Wheel, please visit their website.

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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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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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