2020 Annual Report
Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program Yayasan Palung
Photo © Tim Laman
Table of Contents Mission & Vision 3 Foreword by Executive Director Dr. Cheryl Knott 4 1. INTRODUCTION 5 2. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION 9 3. CONSERVATION AWARENESS 13 4. SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS 15 5. WILDLIFE CRIME INVESTIGATION & MONITORING 17 6. CUSTOMARY FOREST INITIATIVE 19 7. SAVE WILD ORANGUTANS 22 8. ORANGUTAN RESEARCH 23 9. RECOGNIZING OUR DEDICATED STAFF 27 10. GPOCP FINANCIAL REPORT 29 Our 2020 Donors and Sponsors 30
Text
OUr mission
Indonesian Office Yayasan Palung Jl. Kol. Sugiono Gg. Ikram No. 01 Ketapang 78851 Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia Phone: +62 534-3036367
Our VISION
U.S. Office GPOCP P.O. Box G 1661 Massachusetts Ave Lexington, MA 02420 Email: saveGPorangutans@gmail.com
GPOCP is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Federal Tax ID Number 26-1380932
is to protect orangutan populations and forest biodiversity in and around Gunung Palung National Park, West Kalimantan, Indonesia
is to develop a human community that is aware and motivated to conserve orangutans, their habitat, and biodiversity in the Gunung Palung National Park landscape
Yours sincerely,
Foreword by Executive Director Dr. Cheryl Knott
This year has been unprecedented for us all. We have each adjusted to working from home, along with some of the more harsh realities of the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. On March 20, for the protection of our staff, schools and communities, we chose to temporarily close down our conservation office in Ketapang, West Borneo. We have been working over the years to build the capacity of all our staff, as well as the communities with which we work, to utilize technology. As a result, we were able to effectively work remotely, pivoting to long-term projects such as curriculum development that we could do from home, as we were spread out across the globe. All of our foreign staff members returned to their home countries in mid-late March. We also limited the movement of our Indonesian staff as they worked from home. Our in-person conservation activities, such as school visits, workshops, trainings, expeditions and festivals had to be postponed. We also focused more on implementing virtual meetings and events. Fortunately, the town of Ketapang has been minimally impacted by the virus, and it is not known to have reached the remote villages where some of our staff come from. In late June, we began to cautiously hold some small, in-person meetings, and in July most of our staff resumed work in the office. In late September, local schools reopened, and staff began in-person environmental education activities. Most of our research at Cabang Panti Research Station has been able to proceed normally. We've closely followed the recommendations of the IUCN SSC Wildlife Health Specialist Group and the Primate Specialist Group, Section on Great Apes. Because great apes are most likely susceptible to the COVID-19 virus, it was suggested that all humans maintain a distance of 10 meters from apes. We have always kept a distance of 30m or more, so researchers were able to continue following orangutans on a regular basis. We instituted increased attention to hand washing, use of hand sanitizer, social distancing and mask wearing in the presence of orangutans as well as other people at the field station. We feel fortunate that the region has remained relatively unaffected by the pandemic, but remain vigilant in our precautions and will make responsible changes when necessary. The global pandemic also meant that I was not able to make my annual trip to Indonesia to check in with staff at our conservation office and field station. I continue to feel grateful that our team of 35 Indonesian staff have persisted through the pandemic. Many members have stepped into new roles, allowing our important conservation and research work to continue throughout the year. I am also thankful for all of you, our supporters. Without the help of our strong, international base of supporters, GPOCP's work would not be possible.
1. introduction
1.1 WHY GUNUNG PALUNG NATIONAL PARK?
Gunung Palung National Park (GPNP), located in West Kalimantan, Borneo, Indonesia is a 108,000-hectare protected area that contains nine distinct ecosystem types, representing nearly every variety of vegetation on Borneo. The Gunung Palung lanscape is a designated United Nations Great Ape Survival Project conservation priority area and represents one of the world’s most important blocks of wild orangutan habitat. Made up of tropical moist lowland, peat swamp and montane forests, GPNP hosts a myriad of other endangered and endemic species including gibbons (Hylobates albibarbis), Malaysian sun bears (Helarctos melayanus), proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus), Sunda pangolins (Manis javanica), Horsefield’s tarsiers (Cephalopachus bancanus) and helmeted hornbills (Rhinoplax vigil). Beyond the conservation and scientific value as the only remaining intact lowland alluvial rainforest in Borneo, the National Park is an essential water catchment area, supplying clean water to the surrounding population. The Gunung Palung landscape also plays a major role in buffering against climate change for the region, with deep peat forests serving as a carbon sink and mitigating the flooding and salt water intrusion that damages coastal farmlands. The Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program (GPOCP) has been involved in scientific research and conservation in the area since 1994.
1.2 CONSERVATION THREATS
Habitat degradation can lead to food scarcity, which in turn may stress orangutans, threatening their health and potentially negatively affecting their reproductive rate. Lack of food periodically forces orangutans to forage in oil palm plantations or private farmlands, triggering conflict with humans. The biggest direct threats to orangutans in the Gunung Palung lanscape are illegal logging and the expansion of oil palm, and mineral mining. These threats are driven by a complex web of social, economic and political factors, including the lack of sustainable livelihoods for local communities, low levels of education, and a lack of local, regional and national political commitment to effective conservation.
Across Borneo, forests continue to be cleared. Timber and minerals are extracted at an alarming rate and peatlands are drained for industrial-scale agriculture, wreaking havoc on ecosystems and destroying biodiversity. Some of the most affected areas are vast forested regions which lie outside of protected lands, but are nonetheless critical habitat for orangutans. These 'buffer zone' forests have also traditionally provided local communities with the natural resources that they need to support themselves. As more and more rainforest habitat disappears, the orangutan populations in and around GPNP are the collateral victims. Opening of the forest for logging and agriculture increases access for poachers and hunters involved in the illegal wildlife trade.
Map of the Gunung Palung National Park conservation landscape, showing oil palm concessions, GPOCP Customary Forest areas, Sustainable Livelihood community groups, and Cabang Panti Research Station. Adapted from Knott et al. (2021).
Reduce dependence on environmentally destructive income generating activities and livelihood options
Bring high quality environmental education to schools, villages, and communities throughout the Gunung Palung landscape
Produce media and content to raise awareness about current conservation and environmental issues
Increase scientific knowledge of orangutan ecology, behavior and reproduction & studies the status of the GPNP population
Sustainable Livelihoods
Prevent deforestation and protects traditional community land rights
Conservation Awareness
Environmental Education
Customary Forests
Photo © GPOCP
The Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program aims to ensure a future for orangutan populations and their tropical forest habitat in and around Gunung Palung National Park. We use a multi-faceted community-based approach to conservation, employing five main strategies: 1) Environmental Education & Conservation Awareness, 2) Sustainable Livelihoods, 3) Wildlife Crime Investigation & Monitoring, 4) Customary Forests, and 5) Scientific Research.
1.3 GPOCP'S CONSERVATION SOLUTIONS
GPOCP conservation and research staff during our 2021 Annual Meeting.
Target poaching and illegal wildlife trade
Scientific Research
Wildlife Crime Investigation & Monitoring
Gunung Palung National Park Bureau (BTN-GP) Fisheries and Marine Services Department of Environment Department of Agriculture Handicraft & Home Industry Cooperative (Disperindagkop) National Craft Council Kayong Utara (Dekranasda)
GPOCP Partners
Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) Police Forestry Police NGOs (International Animal Rescue, Yayasan Planet Indonesia, Forina)
Wildlife Crime Investigations & Monitoring
Gunung Palung National Park Bureau (BTN-GP) Boston University Universitas Nasional (UNAS) Tanjungpura University (UNTAN)
Ministry of Environment and Forestry Center for Social Forestry and Environmental Partnerships (BPSKL) West Kalimantan Forestry Service Forestry Unit Kayong Utara Village governments
Gunung Palung National Park Bureau (BTN-GP) Department of Education Tanjungpura University (UNTAN) Universitas Nasional (UNAS) Department of Environment Local schools Alam Sehat Lestari (ASRI)/Health in Harmony
Environmental Education & Conservation Awareness
1.4 GPOCP'S CONSERVATION STAKEHOLDERS
2. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
GPOCP routinely visits schools in the GPNP buffer zone as well as in the urban area of Ketapang. Our in-school programming consists of a variety of classroom activities for elementary, junior and senior high school students, and themed puppet shows for kindergarten and early-elementary students. In 2020, much of our programming moved online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, we still reached a total of 3,626 students and 56 teachers through 62 lectures and presentations. We continue to show improvement in knowledge gain, as measured through our pre- and post- test surveys (using the methodology explained in Freund et al. 2019). This year we also had local and international field researchers making presentations at schools about their work at Cabang Panti Research Station, thus inspiring local youth about possible career paths within environmental sciences right in their own backyards.
A class of high school students listen to a lecture about rainforest conservation.
43 scholarship recipients
67 teachers engaged
3,810 student participants
8 field trips for 184 students
GPOCP works to build a strong base of students and teachers dedicated to environmental education. We strive to engage as many students as possible in orangutan and rainforest conservation. One of our key goals is to inspire and nurture environmental stewardship among youth so that they can become guardians of the animals and plants living in the GPNP landscape.
2.1 CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
2.2 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION EXPEDITIONS
GPOCP runs 3 environmental youth groups: RK-TAJAM in Ketapang and RK-REBONK in Kayong Utara, as well as the Bentangor Kids Club for younger children living around our Bentangor Environmental Education Center. We hold meetings and training for the groups on topics such as organizational skills, ecotourism, environmental science and media. They also help implement our public outreach events and our volunteers' creative delivery of conservation messages are essential to our success across all demographics. This year, we celebrated the 9th anniversary of these groups! For International Orangutan Day, our youth groups helped to organize and run a poster drawing competition, and created a short film. They also assisted with other special events such as Earth Day, Orangutan Caring Week, World Environment Day and World Rainforest Day.
2.3 YOUTH GROUPS & SPECIAL EVENTS
This year, we continued our environmental education expeditions to communities in the more remote reaches of the GPNP landscape. In 2020, the education team carried out 4 expeditions, targeting students and adults in remote villages around the National Park. Each expedition, 3 of which were conducted in collaboration with Yayasan Alam Sehat Lestari (ASRI), included puppet shows, in-class lectures, village discussions, and mobile cinema film showings. All activities focused on teaching participants about orangutans, their habitat, and other rainforest biodiversity. Our 2020 expeditions reached 974 students and 227 adults through community discussions, and 1,871 people attended our mobile cinema events!
Youth group volunteers use puppets to film an informational video about orangutans.
Photos © GPOCP
Student activities during an expedition to the remote village of Pengkalan Teluk.
Field trips are at the core of our Environmental Education program. We bring youth to rainforests and mangroves to learn about ecosystem services and local biodiversity, thus fostering a sense of stewardship towards environmental protection. In 2020, we held 8 field trips, with 184 students and 11 teachers. Destinations included the Lubuk Baji forest in Gunung Palung National Park, the forest surrounding our Bentangor Environmental Education Center, and Pasir Mayang Beach in Kayong Utara.
The West Bornean Orangutan Caring Scholarship (WBOCS) program provides scholarships for students from underprivileged families to attend university. The WBOCS program has two main goals: 1) to foster a college-educated generation that has a commitment to orangutan and habitat conservation, and 2) to provide material support to young people of Ketapang and Kayong Utara who would otherwise be unable to continue their education at the university level. This year we awarded 6 new scholarships, bringing the total number of recipients since 2012 to 43 students. We also held our annual 3-day training course for the recipients to build their capacity, helping to find a successful job once completing university. We also provide students with internships at our office, research station, or with another conservation partner for one month, and students are required to write senior theses related to orangutans or habitat protection. WBOCS students play a major role in our outreach programs, regularly helping to organize and participate in big events like Orangutan Caring Week. Because students study diverse majors, including law, forestry, education, international relations, sociology, geography, biology, and computer software, we develop multidisciplinary local support for conservation.
2.4 FIELD TRIPS
The West Bornean Orangutan Caring Scholarships are awarded in partnership with the Orang Utan Republik Foundation.
2.5 WEST BORNEAN ORANGUTAN CARING SCHOLARSHIPS
Winda Lasari comes from Sungai Laur in Ketapang Regency. She is now studying Forestry at Tanjungpura University.
Meet our West Bornean Orangutan Caring Scholarship 2020 Recipients!
Sonia Utami comes from Kayong Utara. She is now studying Sociology at Tanjungpura Univeristy.
Vera Frestia comes from Sandai in Ketapang and now studies International Relations in the School of Social and Political Sciences at Tanjungpura University.
Muhammad Syainullah comes from Ketapang and has worked as a field lab assistant at Cabang Panti for 3 years. He is now studying Forestry at Tanjungpura University.
Vicu Elyana Listy comes from Ketapang and is now studying Law at Tanjungpura University.
Rizal comes from Padu Banjar village (a GPOCP Customary Forest). At Tanjungpura University he is studying Forestry.
GPOCP broadcasted a total of 48 environmental radio programs in 2020. Each month we reach an estimated 400,000 listeners across the landscape. Shows are interactive, often calling on special guests from local government and community organizations. Special guests this year included Beth Barrow who led our Drone and Nest Survey, Endro Setiawan from the National Park Office, and Environmental Education Field Officer Harning Pertiwi who discussed community-wide conservation poster competitions. We also started training two youth group members to present and lead the talk shows, increasing their capacity and adding new perspectives. To listen to a few of our radio clips (in Bahasa Indonesia), visit the Yayasan Palung Sound Cloud account here.
28 scientific presentations given
3. CONSERVATION AWARENESS
48 radio shows broadcasted
Recording a radio show at Kayong Utara station
GPOCP’s Conservation Awareness program employs a range of communication tools to raise awareness about orangutans and their rainforest habitat. Our ultimate goal is to nurture environmental stewardship among people living not only in the Ketapang and Kayong Utara Regencies, but also across Indonesia and the world.
119 Indonesian articles published
5 special events held with 307 participants
Distribution of MIaS newsletters (left) & a volunteer paints an informational sign about how long it takes different types of trash to decompose (right).
3.1 RADIO
Social media is an invaluable tool for spreading conservation awareness to people concerned about orangutans and their rainforest habitat across Indonesia and around the world. Check out our different channels!
Since remote communities cannot always interact digitally, we also create brochures, banners, posters and bi-annual printed newsletters. Last year we shared over 2,000 newsletter copies with our local stakeholders, villages and partners. In 2020, the themes of our Indonesian Newsletter, MIaS, were "The History and Causes of the Devastating Virus" and "The Carrying Capacity of the Natural Environment". We had a variety of other printed campaign media, including cartoon picture books, wildlife stickers and classroom posters about the Top 10 Orangutan Food Genera and 15 Mammals of Gunung Palung National Park. We also write a monthly English language newsletter, Code RED, to share our on-the-ground conservation and research activities with our international audience! Join our email list to receive Code RED right to your inbox. Part of our outreach strategy is also to share our research with stakeholders and partners. In 2020, we had 36 presentations, given by Dr. Cheryl Knott, and local and foreign GPOCP researchers.
3.3 MEDIA & PRESENTATIONS
Gunung Palung Orangutan Project Yayasan Palung (Indonesian) @savewildorangutans (English) @yayasan_palung (Indonesian) @GPOrangutans (English) @gpocp (Indonesian) GP Orangutans
To make the most impact locally, we publish Indonesian language articles, blogs, and newsletters. We published a total of 119 news articles in provincial and national print and online newspapers in 2020, with a total of 6,164 readers. We also posted another 157 blogs on our Indonesian website (yayasanpalung.com). Articles were featured in newspapers such as the Pontianak Post, Tribun Pontianak, Indo Net News, Kompasiana, Equator, Suara Pemred, and Mongabay Indonesia. These media outlets allow us to reach audiences well beyond the local communities of Ketapang and Kayong Utara, covering a variety of topics, from our conservation activities to editorials on environmental issues. We raise awareness throughout Indonesia and beyond about the global importance of environmental conservation, the specific threats to Kalimantan’s biodiversity and actions that can be taken to address these threats.
2 new groups formed
Our organic agriculture program provides local villages with the technical support necessary to increase crop yield, thus reducing the need for destructive slash-and-burn farming for new land. In 2020, we continued to support the Meteor Garden group, who produced a total of 758 kilograms of crops, including vegetables like long beans, eggplant, cucumber and mustard greens. Meteor Garden also produced organic fertilizer, to use on their own crops as well as sell to the public. Meteor Garden and the ResamKU Craft Group also worked to plant 25,500 mangrove seedlings across 5 hectares of land, in collaboration with the Kayong Utara Environmental Agency and West Kalimantan River and Forest Protection Agency (BPDASHL), along the Pampang Harapan Village Beach. In 2020, we formed 2 new sustainable livelihood groups – one farming group in Riam Berasap Village and one non-timber forest product group in Matan Jaya.
4.2 ORGANIC FARMING
25,500 mangrove seedlings planted
4. SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS
$3,284 earned through NTFP sales
The Sustainable Livelihoods program strives to encourage “forest-friendly” economic opportunities among communities living in the Park buffer zone. We promote organic farming, develop non-timber forest product (NTFP) artisan groups, and teach people aquaculture (fish farming) methods. These programs help to deter illegal land clearing, hunting and logging in the area.
A fish farmer feeds his pond of carp (left) and two farmers weigh their long bean crop (right).
4.1 AQUACULTURE
Aquaculture, or fish farming, is one of the newest alternative livelihood methods we support. This year we continued to support the Mina Segua aquaculture group, purchasing 1,200 new carp fish, and the Meteor Garden group, purchasing 2,000 catfish. In 2020, we hosted additional workshops on fish spawning techniques in collaboration with the Ketapang Marine and Fisheries Training Center, and fish feed production in collaboration with the Kayong Utara Department of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.
81 households engaged
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, members of the Ida Craft group (led by artisan Ibu Sapirida, who also recieved a 2020 Disney Conservation Hero Award) came together to sew 11,900 cloth facial masks. The masks were then distributed to a variety of local organizations, including the Gunung Palung National Park Bureau, Alam Sehat Lestari, the Kayong Utara Industry and Trade Department, Kayong Utara Social Services Department, and the Indonesian Women's Activist Forum. This initiative provided income to artisans, while also greatly benefiting the larger community.
4.4 SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY DURING COVID-19
4.3 NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCT ARTISAN GROUPS
An artisan weaves a traditional tikar mat using dyed pandanus leaf that was sustainably sourced.
Left: Artisan Ibu Ida uses a sewing machine to make cloth masks Right: A pile of masks that were distributed to the community at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic
In 2020, we continued to support the 4 Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) craft groups, developing their capacity to utilize NTFPs and monitoring their activity and income. We hosted a Pandanus leaf product quality training, NTFP product development training, spatial mapping training, and NTFP sales management training. In total, the groups sold 1,399 products, earning an income of 46,782,000 rupiah ($3,284). Among the 4 artisan groups, each participating household earns an average of $30-$70 per month from their handicrafts. This is nearly half the average monthly cost of living per household! Some of our lead artisans have become community trainers, where they earn up to $200 monthly through 2-3 activities, thus enabling households to financially sustain themselves on Non-Timber Forest Products.
A male orangutan found in Penjalaan Village that had eaten and destroyed hundreds of trees on a community coconut farm.
168 days in the field
A gibbon that was being kept as a pet was discovered in the village of Tanjung Gunung, Kayong Utara Regency.
5. WILDLIFE CRIME INVESTIGATION & MONITORING
5.1 INVESTIGATIONS
In 2020, GPOCP’s Wildlife Crime Investigation team spent over 168 days in the field where they identified 13 cases of illegal activity involving 21 orangutans and 1 proboscis monkey. Of these, 6 orangutans were rescued/ translocated to safer environments. The team also identified several perpetrators of wildlife poaching and trading, one of the most common wildlife targets being the pangolin. Several gibbons and deer were being kept as pets in local villages. Illegal loggers and buyers were also identified and reported. We continued our investigation methods using drone and GPS technology to create maps which helped us produce visual aids to target illegal land use.
6 orangutans rescued
7 villages surveyed
13 illegal cases reported
Monitoring, reporting and rescuing illegally held wildlife is one of our oldest programs. Our field investigators track cases of wildlife crime, mainly committed against orangutans, which are being illegally held captive and/or traded on the black market. We also monitor and mitigate wildlife conflicts and illegal hunting. We work with the West Kalimantan Natural Resource Conservation Department (BKSDA), the Ketapang Police Department, and International Animal Rescue to report wildlife crime and conduct orangutan rescues/translocations.
5.2 ANIMAL PROTECTION CAMPAIGNS
A map of the HOI survey locations in relation to Gunung Palung National Park.
Informational billboards installed throughout local villages. The sign on the left shares information about laws protecting wildlife and fines/consequences that could be faced for breaking these laws. The sign on the right displays legal information about forest fires and mitigation techniques.
To prevent threats to protected animals, and particularly orangutans, we carried out a series of awareness campaigns, installing billboards in high risk/target areas around the National Park. The team also distributed informational stickers.
5.3 HUMAN ORANGUTAN INTERACTIONS
In November 2020 we completed the second half of our Human Orangutan Interaction (HOI) survey in villages directly adjacent to GPNP. The villages surveyed were Matan Jaya, Batu Barat, Gunung Sembilan, Pengkalan Buton, Sejahtera and Riam Berasap. Data were collected from 210 individual respondents. Combined with the first round of 2019 survey data, 420 people were surveyed in total. Stay tuned for survey results once the data have been analyzed. Results will also help to inform our conservation efforts, with a better understanding of where to focus our programming and what material to highlight to most effectively mitigate HOI.
123 Customary Forest Management Board members
Two members of the newly-formed Rantau Panjang Customary Forest Management Board (LPHD) create transects during a biodiversity survey.
GPOCP’s Customary Forest Initiative aims to protect forests by supporting the legal transfer of management rights, under Indonesia’s Hutan Desa program, to communities that have traditionally managed them. Facilitating the creation of local conservation areas around GPNP, that are sustainably used and managed by villagers, is a practical way to reduce encroachment rates into the Park, and conserve habitat for orangutans and other vulnerable species. Our approach involves training local Customary Forest Management Board members in forest management, surveying, and report writing. We also teach participants sustainable business management, provide legal support, and facilitate meetings with forest authorities.
The first 5 Customary Forests were officially recognized in 2017. In 2018 we helped to initiate the process for two additional communities to become Customary Forests, in the villages of Batu Barat and Rantau Panjang. Excitingly, in 2020, the Indonesian government officially designated these areas as two new Customary Forests, adding an additional 798 ha of protected land. The formal letter, issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, was received in August 2020, and permits the villages' Management Boards to supervise and utilize the Customary Forests for the next 35 years. In total, we have now helped to protect 7,962 ha of land in a critical buffer zone surrounding GPNP.
6.1 NEW CUSTOMARY FORESTS
340 people in 26 Social Forestry Business Groups
235,000 mangroves planted for forest restoration
798 hectares of new protected land
6. CUSTOMARY FOREST INITIATIVE
6.2 CAPACITY BUILDING
6.3 SMART PATROLS
Top: The biodiversity survey team enters a Customary Forest Bottom: Surveyors fly a drone during the assessment of a Customary Forest for potential NTFP sources
GPOCP's ultimate goal for our Customary Forest program is to be able to conclude programming in each area, and have forests continue to be responsibly managed and protected independently by skilled community members. Outside of legal support, our approach focuses on capacity building of social forestry groups, and collaboration with local partners such as the Kalimantan Region of Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership Agency (BPSKL), the West Kalimantan Provincial Forestry Service, the Kayong Utara Agriculture & Food Service, the Kayong Regency Industry & Trade office, and the Kayong Utara District Health Office. To ensure successful management of the Customary Forests, GPOCP and the Customary Forest Manangment Boards (LPHD) work together on various activities that take place within the forests. Soon after their establishment, we got to work conducting biodiversity surveys in Batu Barat and Rantau Panjang in order to investigate the flora and fauna that inhabit these forests and collect data on any orangutan nests that may be present (which indicate that orangutans are living in the area). We also conducted forest potential surveys to understand what natural resources are available in the forests to use with Social Forestry Business groups (KUPS), and found plentiful sources of pandanus leaf, rattan and forest bees.
In 2020, we provided supplies and training to all 7 Customary Forest Management Boards (LPHD) on the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART). These patrols, which we aim to conduct on a monthly basis, help to prevent and anticipate forest fires, deter illegal activity, establish environmental security patrols, and promote consistent enforcement of the law. LPHD have now also received extensive training on firefighting, using new equipment, and participated in a series of workshops focused on survey data analysis and report generating. The goal is to regularly send complete reports of forest activity to the National Park Bureau and our other partners, and share all data within the SMART database.
GPOCP works closely with the LPHD and KUPS to sustainably manage land and rehabilitate and restore forests. In 2020, we received support from the West Kalimantan River and Forest Protection Agency (BPDASHL) to plant a total of 235,000 mangrove seedlings across 4 Customary Forests. LPHD from Nipah Kuning, Pemangkat, Pulau Kumbang and Padu Banjar villages helped to rehabilitate land across 47 hectares of land, over 1,175 plots between November and December 2020.
6.4 LAND REHABILITATION
New product labels for coffee and "keripik" (fried banana chips) produced by Social Forestry Business Groups in Customary Forests.
6.5 SOCIAL FORESTRY BUSINESS GROUPS
An LPHD member prepares mangrove seedlings to be planted.
We continued to build the capacity of the 123 members of Customary Forest Management Boards (LPHD) throughout the year and now have a total of 340 households involved in 26 Social Forestry Business Groups (KUPS). Four of these groups were established in 2020, in the new Customary Forests of Batu Barat and Rantau Panjang. The KUPS are similar in structure to the Sustainable Livelihood artisan groups, but have slightly different rules and regulations due to the legal protection of the forests from which they extract their raw materials. The groups produce organic forest honey, coffee, coconut oil, banana chips, and crafts from coconut shells and pandanus and nipah palm leaves. Some groups are also now involved in cattle and goat farming. We also helped our Social Forestry Business Groups in Customary Forests to obtain Halal certification from the Indonesian Ulema Council as well as Home Industry Food Certificates, allowing more supporters to purchase their food products. A series of workshops were also held on topics including NTFP product development and marketing, beekeeping, business management, food packaging and product development.
GPOCP Executive Director, Cheryl Knott, and Wildlife Photographer, Tim Laman, on an expedition to capture footage of wild orangutans in Gunung Palung National Park.
7. SAVE WILD ORANGUTANS
In February 2020, we launched our new online membership initiative called Save Wild Orangutans. We got to work creating a brand new website, revamping our social media accounts, and re-branding our platform in order to expand our project even further. We decided to call this new initiative Save Wild Orangutans (or SWO for short) because that's really what our program aims to do! Studying and conserving wild orangutans is also what distinguishes us from almost all other orangutan-related NGOs that focus on orangutan rehabilitation and re-introduction to forests. Team Wild Orangutans consists of supporters that pledge to donate $5 or more each month. Members then get access to new photos, videos and stories straight from the field. All proceeds go directly to our work with habitat protection, conservation awareness, working with local communities, and research activities. These funds help us to purchase equipment used each day in the field, contribute to the salaries of over 25 local Indonesian staff members, and supplement funds for all the day-to-day expenses of running our Yayasan Palung Office and Cabang Panti Research Station. Our goal is to provide a way for people who are passionate about protecting Borneo's wild orangutans to help. Many of us are aware of the problems that Borneo's biodiversity face, but may feel helpless or unsure of how to make a change. Now, thanks to our many supporters, we can keep orangutans wild. If you'd like to join the Team and see more of what we've been up to in Indonesia, follow the link here.
289 orangutan follows
8. ORANGUTAN RESEARCH
In 2020, research continued on our project examining whether orangutans’ extremely long juvenile period is a response to their variable environments and long periods with very low food availability. We use exciting new technology and research techniques in concert with ongoing behavioral observations of wild orangutan behavior to answer this question. We used a parallel laser camera to measure growth rates, expanded video analysis and collected fecal samples to examine chewing efficiency and nursing rates. We also analyzed urine and feces to measure energy balance, study digestion, and monitor health and reproductive status. Our findings will illuminate the ways orangutans have adapted to their variable environment, and help determine effective conservation strategies to ensure their long-term survival in Indonesia's rainforests. In 2020, we collected 130 fecal samples from 14 individuals and 55 urine samples from 13 wild orangutans at the Cabang Panti Research Station in GPNP. A total of 1,342 trees were measured, 347 of which were tagged for the first time. A total of 1,953 hours were spent observing 36 different orangutans. The team followed 6 infants, 3 juveniles, 4 adolescent females, 12 adult females, 7 unflanged males and 4 flanged males.
Scientific research plays a critical role in the conservation of orangutans because it is essential to monitor the population’s size, health, and habitat use in order to understand the viability of wild populations. Our project has pioneered the use of non-invasive techniques, using health markers found in urine and feces, to give us insights into the status of wild orangutans.
An infant orangutan named Winnie looks from behind a leaf.
36 orangutans observed
8.1 JUVENILE GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
1342 trees measured
Photo ©Tim Laman
130 fecal samples collected
8.3 ORANGUTAN POPULATION SURVEY
8.2 STUDENT RESEARCH
In 2020, our field team concluded a year-long series of ground and drone surveys to estimate the orangutan population in GPNP. By counting orangutans nest on transects from the ground, and aerially via drone imagery, we can estimate the number of orangutans likely to inhabit the area. This novel methodology has allowed us to estimate an approximate population of 2440 orangutans in GPNP. This number is consistent with our last extensive survey in 2001, indicating a stable population size. In total, the dedicated team walked nearly 100 kilometers over 50 ground transects and collected 10,000 drone photographs to be analyzed. Staff and volunteer researchers then got to work counting nests from drone images. The photos to the right show a sample image from one of the peat swamp transects in primary rainforest (top) and a sample orthomosaic which overlays both ground and drone nest GPS points for comparison (bottom).
Left: Field Research Assistant, Hassan, collects behavioral data during an orangutan follow. Right: Field Research Assistant, Sabta, observes a flanged male orangutan named Logan.
Student researchers participated in projects both at the Cabang Panti Research Station and at Boston University. Eleven Indonesian university students conducted field research this year, spending 1-6 months at the research site. In 2020, 1 postdoc, 10 Boston University undergraduates and 5 graduate students were involved in this research through training and thesis research. 9 Indonesian field research assistants, 3 field laboratory assistants, 1 field manager and 3 field manager non-students were also trained on data collection, sample preparation and data analysis methodologies. Student projects included identifying orangutan fecal parasites, studying the gut passage and seed dispersal rates of orangutans via analysis of fecal samples, measuring fiber in orangutans foods, establishing methodologies for orangutan nest survey studies, assessing creatinine levels in urine, analyzing how infants nurse, and recording juvenile feeding behavior.
Dr. Cheryl Knott, Postdoctoral Researcher Dr. Erin Kane, graduate and undergraduate students gave 13 scientific presentations on orangutan research at 4 different national and international conferences. Two papers were also published in peer reviewed scientific journals.
8.5 PAPERS & PRESENTATIONS
The 2019 Cabang Panti Field Research Team
To expand our understanding of orangutans in degraded habitat, we have established a new research area known as the Rangkong in selectively logged forest on the outskirts of Gunung Palung National Park. Orangutans are found here even when they are scarce in more pristine habitat. We suspect that they use this area when native foods are rare because of pioneer and invasive species that flourish in canopy gaps common in logged forest, and produce large crops of sugary fruits. Because this area is used by both humans and orangutans, there is potential for human-orangutan conflict. By understanding how humans and wildlife use this habitat, we can reduce the potential for human-orangutan conflict in a critical region for orangutan conservation. Monitoring of orangutan health in this area also provides information on potential impacts on orangutans from habitat disturbance or human contact.
8.4 RANGKONG PROJECT
The newly rebuilt Camp Besar which houses the laboratory, specimen room and research library.
The new Camp Litho (left) which houses National Park Staff and a large meeting room, and Camp Nyamuk (right) which has assistant lodging, a kitchen, dining area, and prayer room.
8.6 CABANG PANTI CAMP CONSTRUCTION
Bapak Citra Buani officially opens the new Cabang Panti Research Station.
In 2019, GPNP Research Station Head, Endro Setiawan, with support from GPOCP Research Director, Wahyu Susanto, submitted a competitive proposal to the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry to have Cabang Panti Research Station rebuilt. Excitingly, their proposal succeeded, and it was decided that Cabang Panti would become the new model research station for all of Indonesia! Constructed ended in 2020, and the new station was officially inaugurated in December. The inauguration ceremony included special guests Bapak Citra Duani, Bupati of the Kayong Utara Regency, and Bapak Sapto Aji Probowo, Sub-Directorate of the Director General of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, as well as the Deputy Chief of Police and the Liaison Officer of Kayong Utara Regency, and the Head of the Sejahtera Village. Also in attendance were Yayasan Palung staff, National Park officers, long-term research counterparts from Universitas Nasional in Jakarta, and members of long-term collaborating institutions. The new station now has several buildings to support research, including a meeting hall, library, specimen room, laboratory, presentation room, lodging houses, and a place of worship. We are so grateful that the Indonesian government has sponsored this construction, and are excited that this new infrastructure will better support our research project. We are hopeful that when COVID-19 conditions improve and travel is safe, we can welcome more researchers from around the world and share this beautiful research station!
CONSERVATION STAFF Habitat Protection Edi Rahman, Field Director; Animal and Habitat Protection Manager Hendri Gunawan, Customary Forest Coordinator Environmental Education & Conservation Awareness Mariamah Achmad, Environmental Education Manager Dwi Yandhi Febrianti, Environmental Education Manager Simon Tampubolon, Environmental Education Field Coordinator Petrus Kanisius, Environmental Education Field and Communications Officer Haning Pertiwi, Environmental Education Field Officer Sustainable Livelihoods Wendi Tamariska, Sustainable Livelihoods Manager Ranti Naruri, Sustainable Livelihoods Manager Abdul Samad, Sustainable Livelihoods Field Officer Asbandi, Sustainable Livelihoods Field Officer Salmah Sos, Sustainable Livelihoods Assistant Field Officer Animal Protection Erik Sulidra, Wildlife Crime and Investigations Manager Andre Ronaldo, Biodiversity Conservation Survey Coordinator Sidiq Nurhasan, Animal and Habitat Protection Investigator
9. RECOGNIZING OUR DEDICATED STAFF
RESEARCH STAFF Wahyu Susanto, Research Director Ella Brown, Research Manager Ahmad Rizal, Assistant Research Manager Muhammad Syainullah, Laboratory Assistant Sumihadi, Laboratory Assistant Ishma Fatima, Laboratory Assistant Raden Harissan, Field Assistant Sahril Ramadani, Field Assistant Suharto, Field Assistant Andi Abdul Sabta Pelari, Field Assistant Yogi Saputra, Field Assistant Supianto, Field Assistant Randha, Field Assistant Zakaria, Field Assistant Andika, Field Assistant
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Desi Kurniawati, Human Relations and Community Development Manager Suyandi, Operations Coordinator Risya Rejita, Finance and Administrative Officer Rudy Hartono, Office Assistant/Security Guard Mahendra, Office Guard
INTERNATIONAL OFFICE Dr. Cheryl Knott, Executive Director Victoria Gehrke, Program Director Natalie Robinson, Program Coordinator Beth Barrow, Conservation Research Director Terri Breeden, Development Director
GPOCP BOARD MEMBERS
GPOCP BOARD OF DIRECTORS President: Cheryl Knott, PhD, Executive Director, Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program and Gunung Palung Orangutan Project; Professor, Department of Anthropology, Department of Biology, Boston University Secretary: Andrea Johnson Treasurer: Terri Breeden Board Members: Elizabeth Yaap, PhD, Co-founder, Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program Tim Laman, PhD Noemi Rosa Rebecca Martin YAYASAN PALUNG GOVERNING BOARD Yudo Sudarto, Ketapang Culture and Tourism Bureau Barita O. Manullang, PhD Darmawan Liswanto, Fauna & Flora International Sri. Suci Utami Atmoko, PhD, Professor, Faculty of Biology, National University, Indonesia Dedy Darnaedi, PhD, Indonesian Institute of Sciences Jito Sugardjito, PhD, Director of International Cooperation, National University, Indonesia Dadan Kusnandar, PhD, Professor, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Tanjungpura University ADVISORY COUNCIL Adi Mulia Ketapang Department of Forestry Yohanes Terang, Laman Satong Village Diah Permata Hildi, National Handicrafts Association - Kayong Utara
Special thanks to Balai Taman Nasional-Gunung Palung, and RISTEK, who facilitate our research in the National Park, and our research sponsors and counterparts at Universitas Nasional and Universitas Tanjungpura.
Category
Received
Expended
0pening Balance - January 1, 2020
$20,969
Grants - Federal/Foundations
$359,225
Donations - Unrestricted
$48,593
Refunds/Reimbursements
$5,224
TOTAL REVENUE
$413,042
Conservation/Research Expenses
$313,298
Office/Non-Profit Expenses
$9,120
Bank Fees
$927
TOTAL EXPENSES
$323,345
Balance Restricted
$92,486
Balance Unrestricted
$18,180
Balance December 31, 2020
$110,666
10. GPOCP FINANCIAL REPORT
2020 Financial Summary
Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Program is extremely grateful for the support of all of our donors and sponsors. Above is a summary review of our 2020 finances for our US based 501(c)(3) non-profit. Conservation and Research funds directly support our activities in Indonesia.
OUR 2020 DONORS AND SPONSORS We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all our donors and sponsors in 2020: Arcus Foundation; Boston University; Conservation, Food and Health Foundation; The Whitley Fund For Nature; National Science Foundation; Orang Utan Republik Foundation; US Fish and Wildlife Service; Woodland Park Zoo , Disney Conservation Fund, and Leakey Foundation.
Sustainers ($1,000-$5,000) Andrea Johnson Dan Gavin & Melanie Konradi Focused on Nature Lindsay Neidrauer Tim Laman Patrons ($500 - $999 ) Andy Marshall David Taliaferro Jackie Pearson Rebecca Martin Backers ($100 - $499) Alexander Rivest Amazon Smile Angela Maly Bright Funds C A Fitzsimmons Claudia Knab Vispo Daniel Zemans Danielle Mendez David Brooks David Hall Douglas and Nancy Foy Eliot Girsang Elizabeth Carson Eric Kailly Ernesto Jaramillo Fidelity Charitable Gary Paoli Gisele Knowles Igal Bucay Jane Oremosu Janet Lane Jeff Sanderson Jeremy Waks Jim Moore John Harting Julia Olson Julia York Jullie Hallet Junia Machado Duarte Marcello Kevin Butler Lee Feldmeier Lisa Parlin Marcia Boettcher Mark Leighton Michael Matisko Michael Melmed Michelle Wong Network for Good Nicole Shelledy Niklaus Salafsky Noemi Rosa Quintin Tyree Rachel Mayeri Robyn Ashton Roy Robbins Sacha Lehmann Stefan Luchinger Thomas Campbell Giving Fund Tina De Jong Tom McGuire Tommy Eastman Valentin Beck Friends ($50 - $99) Aditi Mukherjee Alexandra Poulos Andrew McCullough Ann Marie Schiavone Antonia Wesley Bonnie Krawiec Brad Gayman Charities Aid Foundation of America Daniel Kailly Devika Kaul Elizabeth Lombard Gisela Beck Heather Barrett Hillary Adams Hooman Mohajeri Moghaddam Jahan Zaveri Jeffrey Brown Jen Leask John Putty Laura Derks Marti Marache Maryanne Dahlen Meghan Macdonald Michael Sowards Nirupa Narayan Paul Forman Peyton James Richard & Audrey Bribiescas Sajana Weerawardhena Shannon Ambrowiak Teemill Tech Ltd Teresa Davis Terri Breeden Thomas Warhol Tomas Vorlicek Valerie Clausen William Gregg Partners ($1 - $49) Aaron Girard Adilet Zhaxybay Aghnia Prawira Andrea Mason Angel Guerra Ashley Pollack Barbara Holtz Becca Bourson Carole Cotter Chalese Stevens Christopher Humphries Christopher May Clara Madsen Cristina Ramirez Emily Barnett Gabby Salazar Gabriel Nadeau Givio Charitable Foundation Gurban Abbasov Hannah Farley Hitesh Godhwani Hugo Labat Ignacia Lopez Kelly Ivo Grigull Jeanine Zalduendo John E. Rodríguez Josipa Alviz Joy Querida Julian Hehir Kat Baebees Katherine Soto Kenny Hoang Kyle Johnson Laura Maenpaa Lika Bruk Lora Kirilova Meltem Aksu Michael Hoopingarner Mrs D M Kemsley Natalie Elliott Natasha Bartolotta Nicholas Pritchard PayPal Giving Fund Philip Puleo Prima Wijaya Ronan Hakes Samuel Walukouw Sergii Cherkavskyi Sharon Leong Yee Mei Steve Pikula Steven E Barrett Ted Odom Tess Verschuuren Thomas Tomezsko Vanitha Raman Weronika Bednarska Your Cause ETS Yvonne Scharwatz
OUR 2020 DONORS AND SPONSORS