PRCF Indonesia works in liaison with local ethnic communities in West Kalimantan to address the degradation of natural resources and threats to forests and wildlife, particularly endangered species and their diminishing habitat.
Degradation of natural resources
Many areas in which PRCF Indonesia operates have experienced significant degradation of forests, grasslands, and water resources. Through direct involvement of local people, we work to prevent and reverse this degradation, which has immediate and long-term negative consequences. PRCF Indonesia addresses the threat of resource degradation through a series of interconnected activities:
- training to communities in land rehabilitation techniques
- provision of villager incentives to rehabilitate degraded lands
- modelling measures for sustainable use of land and resources
- empowering local people to foster resource conservation
Disappearance of cultural arts
Dayak communities with which we work in West Kalimantan are threatened by the disappearance of their ancestral arts and a major part of their cultural identity, specifically their rich weaving traditions.
With the passing of older weavers, increasingly lack of interest in traditional arts, and limited resources available, these communities and their cultural arts are at risk of disappearing altogether. PRCF Indonesia addresses this threat cultural deterioration by a cultural arts revitalisation program that includes to:
- increase available resources used in traditional ikat weaving
- research, document, and share symbols used in traditional weaves
- support women groups that teach younger generations the cultural arts
- create market options for contemporary weavings and ikat-based products
Species extinction
Through the promotion of community-based conservation approaches, PRCF Indonesia targets the protection of endangered species that include the Tomistoma Crocodile, Mueller Gibbon, and the Green, Hawksbill, and Olive Ridley sea turtles. Most of our efforts have elements of research imbedded and conservation awareness within the community-based approach, in an effort to ensure the sustainability and long-term impact of the activities. We address the threat of species extinction through target efforts to the species we work with, such as:
- researching conservation status and needs of species
- rehabilitating land areas and wildlife habitats that have been degraded
- increasing community awareness of species conservation needs
- engaging communities in leading conservation efforts on endangered species
- strengthening community-let initiatives on species conservation
