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Friends
of the National Parks Foundation (FNPF)
Activity Report February
to April 2004
Firstly we wish to apologise for the delay in the monthly reports; due
to an internal error, we didn’t realize that the February and March reports did
not go out. We have therefore combined February to April to form a
three-monthly report. We deeply
apologise for the error. On the positive side, we have revised our office
procedures and will now offer computer training to staff, as well as to a few
youths from Tanjung Harapan village.
On a more sober note, we are very sad to announce that the wife of our
senior staff, Pak Ledan, has been diagnosed with a tumour. Mrs Ledan may need to go to Java for her
operation, as
In this first four months, we have been making small but determined
steps to improve our core operations. ‘There is a tide in the affairs of men
which, taken at the flood, leads to victory’ : we will not claim victory,
but nevertheless there has been a flow of
energy coming our way, for which we are truly grateful. More individuals and groups have started to
offer us support, and we hope that in time, this support will help us build
something strong and sustainable.
“Semoga semua hidup berbahagia” - May all beings be happy.
1.1 Work Methods, Review and Governance
In
this period, we undertook to review and refine our reforestation
procedures. The following steps were
taken :-
i)
An independant review of our reforestation methods and plant survival
rates was undertaken by three officers from the Park Authorities. The review occurred over 2 days in March, and
the Park noted their satisfaction with our processes. They were also comfortable with the survival
rate (approximately 70%) and suggested further steps that could be taken such
as regular replanting and soil aeration.
ii)
Pak Nanang Qasim, a field consultant from World Education (WE), an NGO
with 16 years history in agriculture and agroforestry in
iii) As part of good governance and oversight, March saw a visit by our Director, Drh I Gede Nyoman Bayu Wirayudha, and our major reforestation sponsor, the US Fish and Wildlife Agency (USFW) represented by Mr. Fred Bagley. We were greatly encouraged by the visits of these two gentleman. Their advice and support was invaluable; Fred made us think more deeply about what we hoped to achieve and also provided a broader vision for our work. We wish to take this opportunity to once again thank the USFW; without their generous support our reforestation work would not be possible.
To
assist with implementing some of the suggested changes, we have undertaken the
following :
i)
Negotiated with the Park Authorities for an officer to
assist us part-time in the field for six months, between April and
September.
Mr. Sunaryo, a young graduate from Forestry School with several years’ field experience as a Park Forest Technician, has been seconded part-time to FNPF by the Park Authorities. His enthusiasm, dedication and high moral code is adding greatly to our work; he is also getting along famously with our staff. We thank the Parks Authorities for this assistance.
ii)
Commenced cultivating several possible varieties of
pioneer trees and an endemic cover crop to create a more supportive planting
habitat
Our senior staff Pak Dullah assisted by Pak Nanang Qasim from WE has identified a ground cover crop which binds nitrogen, keeping out illalang weed and cooling and binding the soil. We have also identified some potential pioneer trees which can survive in harsh conditions, growing quickly to provide shade to young plants and dying quickly to enrich the soil. Possible local varieties include sembong and serunai. We are collecting seed and also growing some of these plants from cuttings, and will transfer them to the field when ready.
iii)
Fixed previous problems and commenced new experiments with
organic fertilizers made from leaf litter and decomposing forest materials
We had a bad situation in February, with insufficiently cured fertiliser wrongly applied to young plants in the field. Many of the plants were only transferred to the field in January and had not yet fully adapted to the tough field conditions. With the additional heat from the incorrectly applied fertiliser, we lost over 1000 plants, bringing our die-off rate from 10%-20%, to just over 30%. Even though this is still within Park Authority standards, it is a severe set-back and a lesson we will not forget.
Mr. Sunaryo has now shown our staff how to determine appropriate stages of compost maturity and how to correctly apply compost. From now on, we will place sufficiently matured compost directly into planting holes and leave it there for several weeks prior to any seedlings are planted. Mr. Sunaryo is also trialling a new method to make compost, using forest litter and organic materials cured and wrapped with added fermenting agents. Decomposition is expected to take less than 3 weeks, with an additional 2 weeks for the materials to cool. We hope to see the proof within another month.
iv)
Installed a water-drip system for vulnerable plants
We hope to
have a basic watering system in place by end June; however pending funds being
available we are using a drip system with plastic Aqua bottles to provide
constant small amounts of water to more vulnerable plants. The system is basic,
cheap and fairly practical and will serve the purpose short-term.
v)
In the peat swamp site, we are trying a new technique with building up
soil clumps at point of planting, to provide greater stability for roots in
water-logged conditions. In addition, we
are turning our focus to other species.
We now have a sufficiently established framework planting (mainly Pulai)
such that we are turning our focus to seed collection and cultivation to try to
obtain more species diversity for planting in between the established
framework. To date, we have collected over 1000 swamp trees seeds representing
four species, and the seeds are growing quite well. We plan the enlarge the swamp nursery in
June.
1.2 Infrastructure
In the period, we also
put in place more infrastructure in line with our project plans:
i)
The 1 km access bridge was completed with a 1 week overrun and 7% over
budget in early February.
ii)
In mid February, we built a new Acclimatisation Station at Pesalat, to
allow a more graduated hardening process.
Previously plants were moved straight from the forest nursery to fairly
harsh conditions. Now, they are moved
firstly to Acclimatisation 1 (A1) where they have exposure to 60% sun and
reduced competition for water. After 1-2
months at A1, they are moved to Acclimatisation 2 (A2), being the existing
facility where they are exposed to 80% sun and subject to reduced watering.
iii)
In April, we added a nursery facility to our
iv)
Due to increasing
visitors, we have added a WC to the Pesalat site.
1.3
Cultivation, Planting and Maintenance
At
end February, we completed the last leg of our planting, aligned with the
fall-off of the rainy season :
i)
We planted 471 seedlings, viz Bedaru 16, Gaharu 33, Idur
20, Kayu Bunga 35, Medang 9, Nyatoh 219, Poga 38, Ramaniah 18, Semongah 10,
Sintuk Lawang 21, Sundi 24, Kayu Akar 7, Ketikal 5, Sampa 7, and Rasak 9.
ii)
The main planting was nyatoh (46%); to ensure a better
balance in future, the amount of nyatoh collected has been reduced (<25%)
We
will henceforth undertake mainly replacement planting. As a result of the composting error where
over 1000 plants were affected, we replanted 420 seedlings in March and 736
seedlings in April. We also undertook normal maintenance tasks, clearing around
40 rows (2 hectares) a month.
1.4 Seedling Stock
From May, we aim to collect at least 1000 seedlings a month. As at end April 2004, we had approximately 3500 seedlings comprising :
Forest Nursery = 2862 seedlings
Comprising Nyatuh
(1267), Sintuk Lawang (232), Kayu Bunga (105), Medang (168), Garu (592), Ubar
(198), Idur (75), Samaku (97), Poga (60), Jujun (45), Karet (13), Sundi (4),
Ulin (6). Avg period in nursery = 2
months
Comprising Nyatuh (207), Sintuk Lawang (142), Medang (145), Poga (50),
Kayu Bunga (110). Avg period in A1= 1/2
month
Acclimatisation II = 84 seedlings
Comprising Nyatuh (48), Sundi (12), Kayu Bunga (24). Avg period in A2 =
2 mths.
1.5 Overall Targets, Risks and Risk Mitigation
Our Conservation Education Program is now starting to take off. On 7th February, we put a proposal
to the Park Authorities seeking permission to bring 12 schools into the Park
and asking the Park to waive entry fees for the students. Permission was granted in late February.
Since then, we have had three schools enter the park as part of our
Conservation Education program. The
objective is to provide students with direct experience of field conditions,
and to allow them to see for themselves the impact of inappropriate human
activity on forest and wildlife. The process is as follows :
i)
Ten students are hand-picked by the schools, to represent those truly
interested in conservation, who might be opinion leaders among their peers
ii)
These select students are brought on site, directly exposed to all the
problems of reforesting a degraded area and required to actively debate
possible causes and solutions, before launching into practical fieldwork
iii)
The students are then allowed to view young orphan orangutans who are at
a midway stage in the reintroduction process, and to ponder the causes.
iv)
Students are required to make direct and indirect field observations at
several points. Their responses are also
rated via a pre- and post-test, and we encourage feedback and questioning at
all times.
FNPF is most happy that nearly all participants ask to continue with the
learning process, and the teachers who accompany them have also been most
supportive.
To create a better Conservation Education focus, we have undertaken the
following:
i)
In April we appointed a young man, Muhamad Hatta as our Conservation
Education officer. Hatta has proved to
be a boon; his intelligence and commitment have been extraordinary. He recently completed High School with
straight As, and hopes to go on to university when funds permit. As former head
of OSIS, the Student Union in Kumai, Hatta also brings a very strong network
among local schools.
ii)
We are very pleased to have the support of Pak Gajali Rahman, a local
teacher in Kumai. Pak Gajali is
presenting materials to students on how to find, identify and use local healing
plants.
To ensure the momentum
is not lost, we intend to undertake the following :
i)
Organize follow-up sessions in the form of overnight camps drawing
together several schools, to build enthusiasm to create conservation clubs
within the schools, and hopefully to generate some inter-school synergy and
friendly rivalry. We aim to commence
this activity in June / July.
ii)
Support school based conservation activities. Pak Gajali has commenced efforts to establish
a medicinal plant garden in his school, and if this is successful he has agreed
to help expand it to other local schools
FNPF strongly believes that awareness and education are an integral part
of any conservation effort. We will
increase our focus on this area - watch this space!
We are proud yet sad to announce that a key member of our orangutan
team, Peltana Danson, has been selected to be a research assistant for a
Fulbright scholar, Michael Gumert.
Michael works with macaques and will be able to offer Danson greater
opportunities and more specialist training in this field. Danson will be sadly
missed by everyone at FNPF.
Isam joins us to replace Danson in the field. Isam is showing himself to be capable, eager to learn, and meticulous, and his initiative is commendable. We wish him a long and happy stay with FNPF.
In February, 3 staff
went on a study trip to observe first-hand other reintroduction centers around
Palangkaraya. We wish in particular to
thank Ms. Lone Dreischer-Neilsen at Nyaru Menteng, and Chanee at Kalaweit for
their kind hospitality and their generosity in sharing their knowledge of
orangutan and gibbon reintroduction. Our staff were given much food for
thought, and we will endeavor to upgrade some of our own practices in light of
what we learned.
Physically, Adong, Daniel and Butet continue in good health although they have had some minor colds and sneezes brought on by the rain. We continue to add vitamins and egg to their milk to strengthen their constitution and provide needed protein.
Mentally, Adong has recovered somewhat since Lady’s departure. Five
times in April he made his way back to the post, preferring to seek human
company than to play with the other orangutans. However, we are very encouraged
that he is now once again regularly in the forest.
In their regular check-up in February, Daniel and Butet had minor traces
of worm parasites; however all the orangutans were given a clean bill of health
in a subsequent check-up in April.
In April, we put in place new arrangements to have blood tests for TB
and Hepatitis done at a local laboratory instead of having to be sent to
Java. This will significantly reduce the
time that the orangutans have to spend in quarantine awaiting test results, and
will also significantly reduce our medical / courier costs. We thank Drh Agus from
the Pangkalan Bun Immigration and Quarantine Centre for his help in putting in
place the new arrangements.
3.2 Food,
Butet and Daniel’s ability to find food continue to improve. In April, they stayed away from the feeding
platform up to six days in a row, preferring to eat wild forest foods. In total, they did not attend the feeding
platform for 13 days in the month; this is very encouraging. We note that they ate from more than 20 food
choices in the month, including bamboo and rempang shoot, simpur and sariwaka
flower, fruit from puak and medan, bark from ketiau and butut trees, and leaves
from many tree species.
Butet and Daniel’s forest skills also continue to improve, although
Daniel as the smaller orangutan still occasionally falls behind when traveling
with the others. We have moved them to a new feeding post and will do some
plotting to more accurately chart their progress in increasing their range. We
hope to also train staff to use GPS to more accurately chart their movement.
Adong however continues to be largely passive. He appears dependant on the pineapples and
bananas we provide; we know from past observation he has the skills to find
food but he appears too lazy to actively forage. His laziness extends to other
activities; he frequently reuses old nests rather than build new ones, and is
content to stay around small low trees despite his considerable climbing
skills. In general, Adong sleeps and/or just sits and rests >70% of the time
he is under observation.
Unfortunately, we cannot reduce Adong’s food to encourage him to seek
forest produce; this only encourages him to return to the post. There have been some days where he has
surprised us by being considerably active, spending more than 50% of his time
being active and looking for food; we therefore have not despaired yet and will
continue to encourage him to stay in the forest.
Butet and Daniel remain very close, although they are now showing signs of becoming more independant. This month, they slept together in the same nest only 4 times; generally though they are now sleeping apart.
They are also clearly comfortable interacting with other orangutans in their area. In this period, they played with several wild juvenile males, as well as with Yanari, the dominant 29 year old male in the area.
Daniel in particular is appearing much more comfortable with orangutans than with humans; when in April Drh Agus attempted to give him a check-up in place of Drh Made, the regular doctor, Daniel showed every sign of fear and stress and struggled very hard to escape the nasty humans. His fear was heart-wringing; however on the other hand it was very encouraging as it shows his unease with the human world.
Adong, as in other areas, lags behind Daniel and Butet in social skills. However, we are still encouraged that he will catch up; compared to a previous month where he was returning to the post nearly every other day he only came back 5 times in April. He is also playing more frequently with Butet now, although Daniel avoids him.
On 25th April, Adong came across Yanari; rather than interacting, Adong ran away but this is also a good sign in that he is able to avoid danger. Adong is also now regularly using lip squeaks and throwing sticks at unwanted visitors (such as tourists J), although he continues to try to approach in particular children and female tourists.
Given the importance of minimising orangutan / human contact, we hope
Adong can hold on and learn to slowly build a life in the forest away from
people.
We are very pleased to announce that Pak Susiantoro, an FNPF pioneer and
long-time supporter, has agreed to join us in a more formal capacity as our
Advisor. Pak Susiantoro will work to
build up FNPF’s network within government, private sector and non-government
circles.
In this period, we
also saw some joint activity with other Park stakeholders:
i)
On 31st March, we were invited by World Education to
participate in a multi-stakeholder meeting focusing on agriculture and
community-related issues in seven villages around the Park. In addition to the
village heads and local NGOs, other attendees included the Regency head, the Heads
of the Agriculture & Livestock, Public Works, Plantations and Park Office
Departments, and the Agriculture Field Training body. The meeting was very useful, giving the
villages’ perspective of the problems they face.
ii)
In April, we had a series of meetings with Pak Saut Manalu, the new Head
of the Tanjung Harapan section in TNTP, to try to develop a joint proposal
supporting patrolling and peacekeeping activities. We hope to be able to support the Park in
this matter, albeit only as a go-between. We were also pleased to meet Pak
Muldiyono, the new Assistant Park Head, who joined TNTP to replace Pak Eddy in
May. We wish him a warm welcome.
iii)
On 12th April, Stephen Brent and Pak Zaqui from Orangutan
Foundation International (OFI), visited our reforestation site at Pesalat. We wish to thank them for their kind comments
on our work. We also wish to thank them
for the invitation to visit the OFI Care Centre at Pasir Panjang, which invitation
we hope to take up next month.
Education Support Program
This continues to run smoothly. However, since our staff Peltana Danson has
left, we need to find a replacement English teacher. Our volunteer is filling in for the time
being; however we hope to set up arrangements with local
We hope to extend the school program to include
scholarships for village children hoping to enter High School in Kumai. If there is anyone who is interested in
helping support such a program, please contact us on fnpf@dps.centrin.net.id
In this period, we have started to produce batik of
saleable quality. Although the standard
of the work being produced is naïf, we hope that visitors will support
local craft. To encourage greater
independence, we arranged for the ladies learning batik to formally elect a
Committee to gradually start taking over responsibility for the project. We wish in particular to thank Ibu Nursilah,
who agreed to accept the role of Head of Committee. Ibu Nursilah is a single mother whose energy,
commitment and intelligence inspires respect.
Her ability to gain agreement among the participants gives us hope that
eventually, the project will be turned over fully to the village.
In March, we rebuilt our batik training hut, shifting
it to a more convenient location next to the village cooperative. We also entered into an arrangement with the
village cooperative to sell the batik produce without charging a sales
commission. We wish to thank the Village
Secretary and the Head of the Village Cooperative for their help in this matter.
Such is our report for the month.
Once again, we wish to thank all our sponsors and supporters for the
help and support they give so generously.
Respectfully,
FNPF Staff and Volunteer