We work to protect and restore nature in the UK and internationally, and a recent visit by the Indonesian Ambassador to the RSPB’s UK Headquarters provided a great opportunity to discuss how we can further support biodiversity conservation.
In 2002, the RSPB, BirdLife International and the Indonesian BirdLife partner, Burung Indonesia, joined forces to work with local partners and the community to protect Hutan Harapan, 100,000 hectares of rainforest on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Hutan Harapan is a critical habitat for global conservation, and home to the critically endangered Sumatran Tiger, Sumatran Elephant and the world’s rarest stork, the Storm’s Stork.
Recently, we were delighted to welcome the Indonesian Ambassador to the UK and Ireland, H.E. Desra Percaya, to the RSPB’s UK Headquarters at the Lodge in Bedfordshire, and to discuss conservation efforts both in Hutan Harapan and here in the UK.
Ambassador Desra was greeted by RSPB Executive Director for Global Conservation, Katie-Jo Luxton. During this visit, we had a fruitful discussion on how we can further support biodiversity conservation in Indonesia. Ambassador Desra also spent time walking around the Lodge Nature Reserve, the largest stretch of heathland in Bedfordshire, where the RSPB is working to create ideal conditions for varied wildlife including Nightjars, Natterjack Toads and Hobbies.
Over the past century, Sumatra has lost a staggering 95% of its forest cover. Hutan Harapan now represents about 20% of the remaining lowland forest on the world’s fifth largest island. Harapan is a sanctuary for dozens of globally threatened species, with the forest home to more than 50 species of mammals and more than 300 species of birds.
Hutan Harapan is also vital to the livelihoods of indigenous Batin Sembilan people. They depend on the forest for small-scale agriculture, rubber-tapping, and hunting. For these communities, the forest is crucial for maintaining their cultural, economic and ecological practices.
In 2004, the Hutan Harapan consortium successfully encouraged the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry to implement a new type of forestry concession, allowing former logging concessions to be managed for restoration and conservation. This Ecosystem Restoration Concession (ERC) helps Indonesia meet its international commitments, including the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD), the Paris Agreement, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The importance of Hutan Harapan for biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation has attracted support from the Governments of Germany, Denmark, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and various other donors. However, challenges persist and the Hutan Harapan consortium is actively working to address the issues that threaten the forest.
Continued cooperation among all stakeholders is essential to ensure the sustainability of Hutan Harapan and other critical habitats around the world. Together, we can make a significant impact on global biodiversity conservation.
