23.02.2023
Recently, an orang utan was spotted at one of our concessions. This sighting was exciting and significant because at the heart of Goodhope’s sustainability journey is the protection of the biodiversity in the environment that we operate in. This involves continuous education of not just our employees but the community as well about the importance of protecting native animals and plants, especially Rare, Threatened or Endangered (RTE) species such as the orang utan.
Following the orang utan sighting, we quickly organised a conservation awareness program at the Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Kalimantan on February 18th. A group of 29 participants were given hands-on training (well from a safe distance of at least 10 metres) on the importance of orang utans in our ecosystem. Villagers from Lanpasa, Terawan, Banua Usang and Paren participated in this program together with Goodhope employees from PT Agro Indomas and PT Rim Capital including teachers from the junior high school and elementary school operated by Goodhope’s foundation.
The program focused on the significance of biodiversity conservation and measures that can be taken to mitigate and resolve human-wildlife conflicts. The main objective of the program was to impart understanding on the importance of species diversity in contributing to the health of the forest and its positive impact on the communities that live there.
Tanjung Puting National Park is a national park located in the southeast part of West Kotawaringin Regency in Central Kalimantan. Four research centers – Camp Leakey being one of them, have been established within the park for the study and rehabilitation of orang utans and other primates.
The photos speak volumes about why we need to continue being good stewards of the land we operate in.