Tesso Nilo National Park Boundary soon be Set About 38.576 ha of Tesso Nilo forest have been designated as national park through the decree of Ministry of Forestry on July 2004. Since the designation, boundary demarcation has always been an issue that is questioned by community living around the park as on the ground they do not know the boundaries of the national park. This condition also contributes to encroachment activities inside the park as local community infringes the protected area. Marking the park boundary (photo: WWF Ind-Tesso Nilo prog/ Alhamran) Verifying coordinates on the map in the field (photo: WWF Ind-Tesso Nilo prog/ Alhamran) WWF had initiated to lobby local government in order accelerate the process of the park boundary demarcation. As the follow up, boundary demarcation team of regional I-Medan had been assigned to Tesso Nilo National Park for field verification of the park boundaries during November 18 to December 11. The team was assigned to install temporary boundaries in regard to the areas designated as Tesso Nilo National Park through the MoF s decree. On the field, the team found some overlapping between the park area and concession areas such as with PT. RAPP, PT. Rimba Lazuardi, and encroachment areas. With the facilitation of several local people who were hired to help the team, the team gave physical marks even on the areas overlapped with the encroachment. The field findings will become a next agenda for the team to discuss and follow up with stakeholders. Page 1 of 7
One More Flying Squad Team Soon be Recruited The signing of MoU among PT. Musim Mas, WWF Indonesia and Tesso Nilo National Park Foundation on December 22 in Pekanbaru on better management practices of human-elephant conflict mitigation has proven good response from companies in the adoption of Flying Squad approach. Though PT. Musim Mas palm plantation areas are not directly bordered with Tesso Nilo National Park, the management feel interested to take part in mitigating human elephant conflict occurred around the park with their commitment to funding the operation of one Flying Squad team for two years in the first round. In the MoU, WWF is to give technical support and its expertise for the operation of the Flying Squad team and Tesso Nilo National Park Foundation is as funding recipient that will distribute the fund donated by the company. With this MoU, to date there has been three companies operating around Tesso Nilo committed to support and implemented Flying Squad around the park. The MoU signing session (photo: WWF Ind-Tesso Nilo prog/ Sri Mariati) Saleh Djasit, the vice of board of trustee of Tesso Nilo National Park Foundation who attended the MoU ceremonial session welcome this collaboration as he saw that collaboration with companies for the management of Tesso Nilo are now in place. He added that the foundation that was established amid this year would take lead to initiate such collaboration as it is in line with the mission of the foundation. Furthermore he said that he himself understood the long way to struggle Tesso Nilo forest as an elephant conservation area therefore he supported this kind of initiative. Meanwhile, director of PT. Musim Mas, Surja in the opportunity said that he felt glad that the company could make some contribution in the attempt to mitigate human-elephant conflict. Apart from the three institutions that have made this agreement, as planned the MoU will also be signed by district head of Pelalawan as the witness. However, due to its schedule the district head could not attend the ceremonial session. The MoU then was signed by the district head on other day. The MoU is ready to be implemented, and we hope a new Flying Squad team is soon will be recruited and deployed to Tesso Nilo National Park. Page 2 of 7 Feasibility Study of Cassava Starch Factory Still remember about the economic scoping mission conducted by TDI, a WWF NL consultant to Tesso Nilo last April? The mission that aimed to seek economically viable development projects for the various communities living in and around the Tesso Nilo National Park gave some recommendations, one of them is
setting up starch factory in an area around Tesso Nilo. As the result of the recommendation and followed by further discussion, there is an in need of Riau Pulp ( APRIL) on cassava starch as their paper factory needs eight tons of starch per month while so far they import the cassava starch from Thailand. In the spirit of enhancing economy alternative for local community around Tesso Nilo, the existence of cassava starch factory around will help improve community s subsistence as cassava farmers have potential market. Field visit to see the land for cassava plantations On December 11 to 14, TDI then visited Tesso Nilo again to conduct feasibility study to get information needed for setting up cassava starch. The first agenda of the visit was discussion with Riau pulp management as the potential market for cassava starch. At his discussion, the company supported the set up of cassava starch factory as this kind of factory can also help reduced distribution cost for Riau pulp as they can get the supplies from local besides their commitment to take part in developing local people economy. The company is committed to give technical assistance, management as well as provide the market for the realization of this cassava starch factory. The TDI team accompanied by WWF, Tesso Nilo Community Forum, CECOM and Riau pulp had a field visit to Pangkalan Gondai village, one of the 22 villages around Tesso Nilo to see the availability of land for cassava plantations in the following day. At this village, team observed 1,000 ha of bare land and some old rubber plantations owned by community which are ideal for cassava plantations. The team also had in depth discussion with CECOM Foundation and Tesso Nilo Community Forum as institutions that have direct experience in engaging with economic alternative development program in Tesso Nilo area. WWF also facilitated the TDI to visit a cassava starch factory in Kuantan Singingi district to get information on their experiences so far in running the business. From this discussion, the factory management revealed that they are lack of raw material supplies as local people now tend to grow oil palm plantations. This lack of supplies has also led them to not able to run the factory for almost four months. All the information gathered from this visit certainly will become input for the planning to establish a cassava starch in Pelalawan district. Page 3 of 7
The Issue of Directive on Protection of Sialang Tree Since 2004, WWF has initiated the issue of local directive that will help protect Tesso Nilo forest based on the local s tradition. Local community around Tesso Nilo has had customary law to protect sialang tree (the tree where the natural honey hives) but recently its implementation seems to fade away. WWF initiated the issue of directive for protection of sialang tree and its surrounding forest in village level within Logas Tanah Darat sub district-kuantan Singingi district. Administratively this sub district is directly adjacent with Tesso Nilo forest complex. As the result of the initiative, five different villages within the Logas Tanah Darat sub district had completed village directive on protection of sialang tree and its surrounding forest during 2005. On the progress then this initiative obtained good response from district government in which they want to accommodate the directive into district heads regulation. On October 18, 2006 public consultation on the draft district head s directive on protection of sialang tree and its habitat was conducted to gain input from stakeholders before it is legalized by the local government. This consultation also resulted on the planning of the local government to map the potential of sialang trees in 12 sub districts in the district (WWF with local community have mapped sialang potential in one district). The directive then was legalized by the district head on October 27. The directive does not only cover responsibility of community and government to take part on the protection of sialang tree and its habitat but also companies responsibility to protect sialang tree and its habitat located inside their concession. To magnify this success, WWF trough the Community Engagement unit will try to initiate the issue of similar directive in Pelalawan district. As the follow up of the issue of this directive, WWF had made an agreement with the government of Kuantan Singingi on mid December to conduct socialization of this directive to the whole district. This socialization aims at to give better understanding to the communities on the protection of sialang tree and its habitat as revealed in the recently declared district head s directive. The socialization sessions that will be conducted by the local government will begin from January to March 2006. Community of Tesso Nilo Are Ready to Set Credit Union WWF in collaboration with Tesso Nilo Community Forum conducted a three-day training on Credit Union Management in Pekanbaru. Twenty participants comprising mostly women took part in the training given by Bitra foundation that began from December 11 to 13. This training is as a follow up of the socialization that was conducted in Tesso Nilo Community Forum s office previously by Bitra foundation, an NGO that has long list experiences of escorting community on credit union management in North Sumatra. To surprise, credit union groups had been set up in four of five villages that took part in the previous socialization. This, of course has given more courage for WWF and Tesso Nilo Community Forum to share knowledge on credit union management to more villages as the communities are enthusiastic with this Page 4 of 7
program. Therefore at this training, more participants from six villages and a female discussion group, a local NGO were invited. In the three day training, the trainee learned all about credit union either theory and practices in the hope that they get better understanding on the need to set up credit union and manage their finance. Credit union can function as a financial resource for the community apart from the bank where they can manage their financial by their own organization. Training session (photo: Tesso Nilo Community Forum) At the end of the session, the participants expressed their optimistic that credit union will be set up in their respective villages. They are confident that this movement will give big contribution for their financial management and improve their economy. Street Campaign to Stop Illegal Wildlife Trade To commemorate Love the National Biodiversity and Wildlife 2006 day, WWF facilitated Nature lover group consisting of senior high school students and university students to conduct series of campaign. Outdoor performance that conducted on the street on December 12, 2006 at the most crowded shopping centre in Pekanbaru is the climax of the series. About fifty students took part in the street performances. Trough the street theater, fliers, banners and etc, these students socialize regulations for protection of wildlife from poaching to public and call for not possessing the wildlife. They also socialized a joint commitment to support for law enforcement against illegal wildlife trade and possession that had been signed by several related authorities. The survey report is disseminated to the authorities (photo: WWF Ind-Tesso Nilo prog) Page 5 of 7 To build public opinion on the need to protect endangered wildlife from poaching, illegal trade and illegal possession is the aim of series activities conducted by WWF in collaboration with nature lover students. The series were begun with surveys conducted by the students to find out related valid
data on illegal trade of wildlife and its body parts and illegal wildlife possession in Pekanbaru. The survey, though conducted in a limited time as they have tight school s schedules, has been able to reveal some findings of wildlife and its body parts sold in Pekanbaru. Some items found in their survey among others: tiger s canine, cigarette pipe made of elephant s tusk, sun bear s canine and nail, and some protected aves are sold in the market. Outdoor performance at nature conservation and forestry service office (photo: WWF Ind-Tesso Nilo prog) Outdoor performance at the street in front of shopping center (photo: WWF Ind-Tesso Nilo prog) These findings then were presented to public and related authorities through a talk show in the hope that government can take action properly. Among the guests attended the talk show are Head of Nature Conservation Agency of Riau, Acting Forestry Service of Riau, representatives from Riau Police headquarter and Judiciary office of Riau. In response to the findings, the Head of Nature Conservation Agency promised that his institution would take these finding for something that they have to work on. He welcomed more updated data from the nature lover groups and collaboration as well. At the last session of the talk show, representative of authorities attended the meeting was invited to sign a written joint commitment to support law enforcement against illegal wildlife trade and possession. Among the items on the joint commitment is that government bodies that have been assigned by law to have authority must act firmly to any violations of illegal wildlife trade and possession. After the talk show, the students then had a vehicle convoy with pick up cars and motor bikes on some streets while distributing some fliers and etc. The convoy then stopped in some spots such as at the office of Nature Conservation Agency, Governor and at shopping centre to perform theatrical performances. This performance pictures condition of some endangered species that are threatened by poaching, illegal trade and pride of possessing them. Page 6 of 7
Together with Media to Build Public Opinion During 2006 a variety of environment related issues occurred one after another. The year was opened by incidences of six elephants dead in the border of Riau and North Sumatra in February exactly which then continued with elephant capture case in Balai Raja Wildlife Sanctuary in March which then became a world wide issue at the time. Human elephant conflict seemed to never stop to occur during this year which then we recorded about twenty three elephants died to the end of 2006. Amid 2006, forest and land fire occurred in almost forests in the entire province which burned even conservation areas like Tesso Nilo National Park. Even meeting of ASEAN Environment Ministers was held in Pekanbaru on October to discuss the management of forest fire in region. The year then was closed with flood issue, here and there rivers overflowed, settlements are submerged. Media gathering (photo: WWF Ind-Tesso Nilo prog/ Sri Mariati) Media so far has helped in disseminating these issues to public. To maintain good relationship with the media, WWF had a media gathering with some media in Pekanbaru on December 28 to close the year. Though rain washed the night when the gathering conducted, about twelve journalists attended the session. In its presentation, WWF delivered about causes of the related environment incidences, WWF s roles and collaboration with stakeholders in overcoming such issues in the hope that media has better understanding on WWF s existence in Riau. Among the questions that the journalist asked directed to their call that WWF should play its role in more firm manner. WWF thanked the media for the support and hoped that WWF and Media can together build public opinion for conservation effort in Riau. Page 7 of 7