Wildlife Asia
Saving the Leuser Ecosystem
The Leuser Ecosystem in Aceh, Sumatra is the last place on earth where orangutans, rhinos, tigers and elephants co-exist. Sadly it is under threat by the proposed Aceh spatial plan which fails to acknowledge the very existence of these vast and ancient protected forests. Wildlife Asia supports local NGOs, to provide immediate protection to wildlife populations and to maintain pressure on the decision-makers and keep the plan from passing quietly into effect. For now, the spatial plan stands at a political standoff, but local NGOs refuse to sit back and are beginning to file legal cases against the plan.
Wildlife Asia provides funding support to our local partners, Forest Nature and Environment Aceh (HAkA) and Forum Konservai Leuser (FKL), who through sheer determination, also managed some major milestones in the field last year despite the fraught political situation. For example, after the groundbreaking Tripa campaign, January 2014 saw the historic legal ruling against palm oil company PT Kallista Alam who were fined almost USD $30 million for the environmental damage they inflicted on Tripa peat swamps – also known as the “orangutan capital of the world”. HAkA are working hard to ensure these fines are paid and that the forest is restored. The FKL teams are rapidly expanding boots-on-the-ground anti-poaching patrols, tasked specifically with protecting the last remaining Sumatran rhinos and elephants. These rangers continue to combat poaching of Critically Endangered species like the Sumatran rhino whose last hope of survival is the Leuser Ecosystem. Investigating habitat disturbance, working with local communities, and facilitating law enforcement across the most critical habitats in the Leuser Ecosystem are also core activities.
2018 brings many new challenges, especially with increased pressure on Leuser’s Sumatran elephants. We are excited to bring the Leuser Ecosystem to the global stage in collaboration with many local and international partners and to implement effective strategies to protect these precious forests and wildlife.
URGENT FUNDRAISING APPEAL
Thank you for your continued help in safeguarding the Leuser Ecosystem! We hope that you will support our current Wildlife Asia Leuser Appeal to ensure the ongoing protection of this critical area.
Please help us continue the battle on the front line to both protect the forest home of critically endangered species like the Sumatran elephant and Sumatran rhino, and to ensure policy level long-term protection of the Leuser Ecosystem. There is currently a crisis facing elephants in this region and we need urgent support to increase ranger patrol teams and to fit collars to the remaining herds so that they can be monitored. With improved knowledge about these elephants we can mitigate poaching and human-wildlife conflict and ensure that humans and elephants can co-exist into the future.
There is no tomorrow for the Leuser Ecosystem if we don’t act TODAY.
For WA to reach our target of $250,000 we desperately need your help. Every donation helps us get that little bit closer to securing a future for these amazing animals. Ongoing regular donations help us to keep rangers in the field, providing job security for these inspirational frontline wildlife warriors.
Wildlife Asia is solely supported by public contributions. Your involvement is critical to our work to preserve the forests and wildlife in South East Asia. Thank you for being a part of this important mission!
For a comprehensive summary of the current situation you can view the following webinar with Ian Singleton from Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaeoCrMe4Pg&feature=youtu.be
To view Wildlife Asia’s Annual Report please visit http://www.wildlifeasia.org.au/our-story/annual-report/
If you would like to become a major sponsor of this project please contact Clare Campbell, Director at clare.campbell@wildlifeasia.org.au or +61 438992325