Hadabuan Hills Community-based Forest Management
PRCF Indonesia is developing a biodiversity co-management program in the landscape of Dolok Simalalaksa/ Hadabuan Hills, a range of forested mountains surrounded by palm oil plantations in North Sumatra. The lush forests are home to several globally threatened species, including the critically endangered Sumatran Tiger, Sunda Pangolin, Helmeted Hornbill, and the endangered Malayan Tapir, Agile Gibbon and Siamang Gibbon, and Sumatran Laughingthrush.
We aim to establish a community-based conservation area to be managed by the local Batak communities through a network of Hutan Desa (Village Forest) fitted with conservation management measures together with village livelihood opportunities. The conservation management initiative we pursue is similar to the work we are carry out in the Kappas Hulu region of West Kalimantan, particularly at the village of Nanga Lauk, although in Sumatra we promote a larger conservation focus.
At present we are carrying out biodiversity surveys to help define critical habitat and conservation zones in the landscape, which will be followed by participatory mapping of the area with local communities. We are also actively engaged in finding sustainable sources of funding to establish the Hutan Desa program, to help further biodiversity conservation while at the same time working with local stakeholder communities to support their livelihoods.