OUR PROJECTS
Project Title: Raising Awareness and Community Participation in Biodiversity Conservation Efforts through the Restoration of 150 Hectares in the Batangtoru Ecosystem
Project Location: Aek Haminjon Village, Arse Subdistrict, South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra Province
Funding Partner: Yayasan Konservasi Indonesia ( YKI)
Implementing Partners: YKI, SRI, Farmer Group, Village Goverment, Regency Environmental Office.
Reporting Period: November 2025 – October 2026
Activity Focus: Planting in degraded areas (Dolok Sipirok Nature Reserve Buffer Zone and River Riparian Areas)
Executive Summary :
This report summarizes the progress of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration activities in Aek Haminjon Village from November 2025 through October 2026. The primary focus during this reporting period includes strengthening community commitment through Community Conservation Agreements (CCA), developing technical restoration planting designs, and initiating the planting of 16,000 multipurpose tree species (MPTS) and productive crops on community-managed lands classified as Other Land Use Areas (Area Penggunaan Lain/APL)
Key Performance Achievements :
During the reporting period, several key milestones were successfully achieved in alignment with established targets:
A. Governance and Community Partnerships
Community Conservation Agreement (CCA): A formal cooperation agreement was successfully established and signed between YKI, SRI, and the community of Aek Haminjon Village.
Scope of Agreement: The CCA focuses on safeguarding the Dolok Sipirok Nature Reserve Buffer Zone and protecting river riparian areas through active community participation
B. Technical Restoration Planning
Planting Design: The technical design for ecosystem restoration planting in Aek Haminjon Village, Batang Toru Ecosystem, has been finalized, detailing spatial layouts, plant species selection, and community roles.
C. Field Implementation (Planting Progress)
Activity Status: The planting of 16,000 seedlings is currently underway, conducted collaboratively by the community of Aek Haminjon Village and SRI
Planting Location: Implemented on community-owned land designated as Other Land Use Areas (APL)
Seedling Composition: Arabica Coffee (Ateng Super): 6,000 seedlings, Robusta Coffee: 4,000 seedlings, Cinnamon: 2,000 seedlings, Local Durian: 1,000 seedlings, Matoa: 1,000 seedlings, Djenkol : 500 seedlings, Bitter Bean (Petai): 500 seedlings. Total: 16,000 seedlings
Challenges and Constraints
No significant issues or constraints were reported during this period. Seedling mobilization and planting activities with the community are proceeding according to schedule
Next Steps
Complete the full planting of the 16,000 seedlings across the designated APL locations. Conduct maintenance activities (such as replanting, weeding, and initial fertilization) to ensure a high survival and growth rate for the planted seedlings. Perform periodic monitoring and evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the Community Conservation Agreements (CCA)
Project Title: Community-Based Conservation of Tapanuli Orangutans and Gibbons in the Batang Toru Forest Ecosystem
Project Location: 8 (Eight) villages surrounding the Batang Toru Forest Ecosystem (Batu Satail and Sampean Villages in Sipirok Subdistrict; Aek Nabara, Tanjung Dolok, Haunatas, Marancar Julu, and Simaninggir Villages in Marancar Subdistrict; and Pinagar Village in Arse Subdistrict), South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra Province.
Funding Partner: Arcus Foundation
Implementing Partners: : SRI (involving communities across 8 assisted villages)
Reporting Period: 2025 – October 2026
Activity Focus:
1. Strengthening Community Conservation Agreements
2. Building village enterprise capacity and strengthening market linkages
3. Implementing SMART patrols
4. Enhancing sustainable agriculture to reduce forest conversion
5. Establishing village regulations on the protection of protected wildlife
Executive Summary :
This report summarizes the progress of community-based conservation activities focused on the protection of Tapanuli orangutans (Pongo tapanuliensis) and gibbons in the Batang Toru Forest Ecosystem from 2021 through 2026. Through a strategic approach across eight target villages, the program has achieved significant milestones, including the strengthening of village-level regulations through Village Regulations (Perdes) on forest area and wildlife corridor protection, economic development through a coffee Joint Business Group (KUB) that has successfully penetrated international export markets (Singapore and Dubai), and the intensive implementation of conservation patrols along the Aek Sirabun corridor to ensure the security of protected wildlife habitats.
Key Performance Achievements :
During the reporting period (2021–2026), several key milestones were successfully achieved in alignment with established targets:
A. Governance and Village Regulatory Strengthening
Village Regulations (Perdes): Village regulations have been officially enacted in 6 villages (Batu Satail, Aek Nabara, Tanjung Dolok, Haunatas, Marancar Julu, and Simaninggir) concerning the Protection, Control, and Utilization of Forested Areas for Community Economic Improvement and as Wildlife Corridors.
B. Economic Development and Sustainable Enterprises
Coffee Joint Business Group (KUB): The *Tanda Sira Maju Bersama”*coffee KUB has been actively operating in Tanjung Dolok Village, Marancar Subdistrict. This group has successfully marketed specialty green bean coffee to international markets in Singapore and Dubai
C. Habitat Protection and Field Patrols
Community-Based Patrols (SMART Patrols): Conducted patrols within Community Conservation Agreement areas along the Aek Sirabun corridor, covering a total tracked distance of75 km.
Field Findings: Monitoring results indicate that the forest remains in excellent, well-preserved condition, with continued signs of presence for key wildlife species such as Tapanuli orangutans, hornbills, and tigers.
Challenges and Constraints
No significant issues or constraints were reported during this period. All community empowerment activities, village legislation, coffee enterprise development, and corridor patrols proceeded effectively according to schedule.
Next Steps
Continue and expand the scope of Village Regulations (Perdes) on wildlife and forested area protection to remaining assisted villages that have not yet adopted them. Strengthen production capacity and international market reach for the “Tanda Sira Maju Bersama” coffee KUB to improve the economic well-being of forest-adjacent communities. Consistently maintain SMART patrol activities and ecological corridor monitoring to guarantee the long-term survival of Tapanuli orangutans, gibbons, and other protected wildlife in the Batang Toru Ecosystem
Project Title: Scaling up Collaborative Conservation of Batang Toru Landscape (Phase I) & Advancing Collaborative Protection of Tapanuli Orangutans and the Batang Toru Ecosystem (Phase II)
Project Location: Desa Marsada (Dusun Aek Latong) and Desa Pahae Aek Sagala.
Funding Partner: BUDAI
Implementing Partners: : Local Conservation and Community Development Partners
Reporting Period: 2025 – October 2026
Activity Focus: Coffee-based agroforestry system development, degraded land rehabilitation, community economic institution building, and market access reinforcement
Executive Summary :
This report provides an integrated performance overview of the collaborative conservation initiatives in the Batang Toru landscape, bridging Phase I (2023–2025) and Phase II (2026–2028). Phase I successfully laid the foundation for ecosystem restoration and sustainable rural livelihoods through extensive coffee-based agroforestry development, degraded land rehabilitation, and structured farmer capacity building. Building upon these ecological foundations, Phase II (2026–2028) marks a strategic shift toward institutional consolidation, economic empowerment, and market integration via the establishment and capacity building of local economic institutions such as *Koperasi Hurokah*
Key Performance Achievements :
Agroforestry Development (Phase I): Developed ±50 hectares across 2 farmer groups consisting of 50 members, planting 39,000 coffee seedlings and 13,600 Multi-Purpose Tree Species (MPTS) seedlings
Land Rehabilitation & Enrichment: Covered 20 hectares with 7,000 MPTS seedlings and 3,000 Non-MPTS (timber) seedlings. Monitoring recorded 8,203 trees successfully growing with a high survival rate of 82.03%.
Institutional Development (Phase II): Formed *Koperasi Hurokah* (Hurokah Cooperative) involving 65 active members, focusing on coffee trading and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs / HHBK) to increase product added value and market access.
Capacity Building:
– Implemented core farmer training modules in soil fertility management, crop maintenance (pruning and eco-friendly IPM), and selective red-cherry harvesting/post-harvest handling.
– Delivered targeted cooperative training modules covering institutional governance, business development, and marketing strategies.
Field Findings:
– Agroforestry plots established in Phase I demonstrate resilient growth, validated by an 82.03% tree survival rate in rehabilitation zones.
– Communities in Desa Marsada and Desa Pahae Aek Sagala show strong commitment toward shifting from individual farming efforts to formalized institutional cooperation through Koperasi Hurokah.
– Increasing demand for structured market linkages highlights the necessity of Phase II’s core business focus on coffee processing and NTFP value addition.
CHALLENGES AND CONSTRAINTS:
– Balancing ecological protection requirements with immediate rural economic pressures in the Batang Toru buffer zones
– Managing the transition phase from initial farmer group capacity building to formal cooperative enterprise governance and sustained market integration.
Next Steps (2026–2028 Work Plan)
Year 2026: Focus on cooperative business development encompassing the production, processing, and marketing of coffee products, alongside strengthening institutional governance of Koperasi Hurokah
Year 2027: Execute maintenance of agroforestry gardens and rehabilitation zones, implement replanting/infill planting (penyisipan tanaman), ensure continuous plant care, and conduct rigorous growth monitoring.
Year 2028: Carry out a final project evaluation to measure overall project outcomes, direct impacts on communities and the Tapanuli ecosystem, and long-term effectiveness, followed by strategic recommendations to ensure the sustained success of landscape conservation.