Kapuas Hulu

The entire area, encompassing approximately 943,975 ha of mixed-use land, was designated as the Betung Kerihun Danau Sentarum Kapuas Hulu Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2018, highlighting its significant ecological and conservation value on an international scale.

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Unfortunately, the region has faced threats over the years, primarily driven by agricultural encroachment and the illegal wildlife trade, which is further exacerbated due to the proximity of the Malaysian border. A road now cuts through the landscape, providing a barrier to complete forest connectivity. Within the vicinity, there are a total of thirty-three villages, predominantly home to indigenous Dayak or Malayu people.

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Sangga Bumi Lestari has recently begun a project to create a protected buffer zone to Betung Kerihun that will cover 78,985 ha of mainly primary forest. We will do this through the Indonesian government’s Customary Forest (Hutan Adat) scheme, which transfers ownership of forest areas to traditional Indigenous owners. The buffer zone and additional Hutan Adat designation in key forest areas in the landscape’s central belt will provide formal protection to forests that are key to enhancing a wildlife corridor that connects Danau Sentarum to Betung Kerihun National Park in the Labian-Laboyan landscape of Kapuas Hulu. This landscape is crucial for the survival of at least 19 endangered species, of which seven are classified as Critically Endangered. Most notably, this includes the Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus) and the tricolour langur (Presbytis chrysomelas ssp. cruciger).

 

Sangga Bumi Lestari’s inclusive approach to conservation of this unique landscape empowers communities to participate in conservation, facilitates the development of sustainable livelihoods, and safeguards biodiversity. By engaging with the government, we will ensure these newly created Hutan Adat areas can be effectively managed and funded in the long-term. By engaging local communities and corporate entities, we will enhance resilience of this fragmented and threatened landscape. Through these efforts, we will safeguard the biodiversity of this internationally significant region, and establish sustainable practices that benefit both communities and the environment.