People Power Drives Southeast Asia's Forest Revival

BusinessToday

3 days ago

Southeast Asia's tropical rainforests, among the most biodiverse on the planet, are under increasing threat. In Malaysia alone, more than 2 million hectares of wet primary forest were lost between 2002 and 2023, contributing to a global decline of 76.3 million hectares.
The impact is being felt by both the environment and the indigenous and rural communities who depend on these ecosystems for their livelihoods and cultural heritage.
In response, community-based forest restoration efforts are gaining momentum. In Malaysia, the Hutan–Kinabatangan Orangutan Conservation Programme (KOCP) stands out as a successful example of this approach.
The programme is a partnership between the French NGO Hutan and the local Orang Sungai community. It employs more than 110 local staff who are involved in a range of conservation activities.
One of their key initiatives is the construction of canopy bridges over the Kinabatangan River, which provide safe crossing points for orangutans and other wildlife. This collaboration not only helps protect endangered species but also supports the livelihoods of local people.
A similar model of collaboration is taking root in Indonesia. In Aceh, the Aliansi Kolibri network and Jaringan Komunitas Masyarakat Adat (JKMA) are working with indigenous communities to restore degraded forests through funding, training, and capacity-building.
At the heart of this initiative is 65-year-old Muhammad Nasir, also known as Imeum Mukim, a traditional leader in Mukim Paloh, Pidie Regency. Nasir is not only a community leader but also a passionate environmental advocate.
Despite pressures from palm oil plantation expansion since 1987, Nasir has led his community in protecting nearly 3,000 hectares of ancestral forest, including conservation zones for traditional ceremonies and vital water springs.
Under his leadership, the community has developed customary regulations, mapped their territories, and advocated for legal recognition of their forest rights.
In 2012, Nasir and the Mukim Paloh community sought JKMA's support to strengthen their customary forest management through training in governance, mapping, legal capacity, and climate change.
This empowerment enabled them to secure official recognition of their customary forest status in 2023, confirmed by a decree from Indonesia's Minister of Environment and Forestry and presented by President Joko Widodo.
Aliansi Kolibri's community-based restoration model has also restored 22 hectares of degraded forest across six districts, involving multiple local organisations.
This approach has encouraged local communities to plant native species that contribute to food security, with over 2,500 seedlings of fruit and nut trees such as avocado, durian, guava, cocoa, and mango planted, with harvests expected in four to five years.
The model aims to inspire similar community-driven restoration efforts across Southeast Asia, ensuring local people directly benefit from forest conservation.
As forest loss continues to impact ecosystems and communities alike, these collaborative models offer a promising path forward.
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