I. ABOUT PANDA CLICK! QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS http://www.flickr.com/people/pandaclick Panda CLICK! uses photography to present to people different perspectives on a range of issues. Panda CLICK! combines photography with social action at the grassroots level. The photographer is local! The inhabitants of the villages of Egg Aur & Empangau (District Bunut Downstream) and in Meliau Hamlet, Village Kelawik (District Batang Lupar) all located in the administrative area of Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan are the both the subject and participants in the program. Panda CLICK! focuses on the perspectives of nature and the environment in the daily life of villages. Why choose this area? This area is associated with a program of WWF Indonesia's orangutan campaign in West Kalimantan, being an area of potential ecotourism based on the presence of orangutan. In addition it was believed that the community would benefit from what is also a community strengthening program conducted through photography. How long is the program? Panda CLICK! takes about a year starting from February 2010 until February 2011. The goals set for the program take in to consideration all the processes and activities that normally take place in the lives of people in the region in a calendar year. Step by step program execution of Panda CLICK! 1. Socialization and awareness raising of the of Panda CLICK! idea with local communities 2. Signing of an agreement with the local communities that they agree with the implementation of the Panda CLICK! in their region 3. The selection of the photographer. Due to the need to document as many life values held by the community and the region, Panda CLICK! selects candidates for photographers who represent a braod cross section of the community. 4. Intensive training on photography 5. Periodic monitoring of activities and data collection / photographs and narrative information 6. Workshops and photo exhibition
Do people have to follow this program? Panda CLICK! is a voluntary program, so the photographers can decide themselves when and where they take the photos within their daily routine. Experience of the process indicates that as the photographers greatly enjoy the process of documenting the objects around them, they are strongly motivated to capture the cultural richness and conservation values of the village. How many images produced by local photographers during execution Panda CLICK!? The photographers have documented nearly 230,000 images. A total of 2,000 pictures were selected for exhibition and 346 for images loaded in Crystal Eye, Panda CLICKS! book. Does the Panda program use video? The Panda CLICK! did at one stage include video, but pre and post production technical problems and budget constraints led to the decision to concentrate on photography. What is the attitude of the local government? Kapuas Hulu District government has welcomed the program. During an audience with the Head of Kapuas Hulu District in preparation for the celebration of Earth Day, 23 April 2013, he carefully studied the book and was very impressed with the images presented. Villages also used the images to secure funding assistance from the Department of Agriculture to further develop 10 hectares of rice fields, tilled by residents through farmer groups. What have been the benefits of the program to the local community? Residents feel proud and happy because they can document the precious things in their lives and information that can be passed down to future generations. They have the opportunity to communicate with other people and find collective solutions to the challenges they face. This discussion can minimize conflicts among residents. The photographs they produce have provided strong evidence to support development proposals to local government, for example, for the development and improvement of rural electric utilities. II. ABOUT CRYSTAL EYE the book The Book 'Cystal Eye', printed in both Bahasa Indonesian and English is part of the documentation of the results of Panda CLICK! It is expected to be a means of documenting culture and values that are important to local communities in Kapuas Hulu in particular, and society in general. Grander ambitions may see it contribute to the cultural awakening among the people participating. What is the content of the book 'Crystal Eye'? This book contains 346 images produced from the Panda CLICK! program in Bunut Hilir Subdistrict, Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan. All of the photos cover issues that are important to the particular society such as: (1) education, (2) health, (3) infrastructure and public facilities, (4) fisheries, (5) agriculture, (6) the plantation, (7) culture, and (8) forestry. The images are described from discussions with the photographer and other community members. The story is recorded in photographs and enhanced with a narrative written by a variety of sources from a variety of fields. The goal is to give a wide perspective as a form of community development program through participatory communication, as well as photographs by local communities.
Narrative sources we also contributed to the book by experts such as Professor of Anthropology. Dr. (Emeritus) Syamsuni Arman, Mario Anthony Birowo, communications expert from the University of Atma Jaya Yogyakarta, West Kalimantan, senior journalists, Muchlis, and Andi Suhaeri Fachrizal, as well as Yusra Ahmad Abroorza, a young poet from West Kalimantan. Why is called Crystal Eye (in English)? Crystal Eye is a reference to the eye of the camera, which documents important objects in public life, including the importance of the values that need to be protected and preserved. Panda CLICK! allows the local photographers to people honestly and openly voice their aspirations and hopes through photos. Honesty and openness is an important value in modern day Indonesia and the photos also provide information that can be acted upon by other parties, including local governments to plan for development that meets the needs of the people. This book is summarized via a Book in Brief, (10 pages), and can be downloaded at... Production of this book was supported by WWF Switzerland and WWF's Heart of Borneo program and proceeds from sales of the book will be returned to the Crystal Eye of local communities in the form of community empowerment program in Bunut. Copies of the book can be bought from WWF Indonesia PT. Panda Lestari (email: pandashop@wwf.or.id) which is located at Graha Simatupang Tower 2 Unit C, 7th Floor T.B. Simatupang Kav 35 Jakarta 12540 Books can also be obtained at Kinokuniya TB, Senayan City, Jakarta. Future plans for the Panda CLICK! program. Expanding the program to other areas, particularly in Kalimantan. The results of the program will be used to build public awareness about the Heart of Borneo, both at national and international level. This will include youth engagement through the photography community for communication and advocacy at the grassroots level. III. ABOUT WWF WWF is an independent conservation organization with more than 5 million supporters and a network of offices in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the earth's natural environment and build a future in which humans can coexist in harmony with nature by conserving the world's biodiversity and ensuring the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable and the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. In 2012, WWF celebrated 50 years of conservation work in Indonesia. More info, please visit www.wwf.or.id
IV. HEART OF BORNEO (HoB) PROGRAM The HoB Initiative is a sustainable use and conservation program that aims to maintain the sustainability of the best remaining forest in Borneo for the well being of present and future generations. The HoB includes territory across the Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia. In Indonesia, the region includes West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and East Kalimantan. More Info: www.panda.org/heartofborneo The HoB comprises of a total area of 16 million hectares in Kalimantan, designated as a National Strategic Area (KSN) according to Regulation No. 26 of 2008. In the future it is hoped a Presidential Decree will provide direction conservation efforts and sustainable development in the region. What is so special about the Heart of Borneo? The region has an area of more than 22 million acres, about 300 times the size of Singapore. This region is one of the places with the highest biodiversity in the world, and one of the two places on earth where elephants, orangutan, rhinoceros and clouded leopard share a habitat. Ten years of research on biodiversity which ran from 1995 2005 on Borneo states that an average of 3 new species discovered every month! There is also the very great possibility of new discoveries in Borneo s many forest areas that still have not been explored. The Heart of Borneo is home to various ethnic and indigenous tribes such as the Dayak, including Penan, Iban, etc. Local knowledge and cultural wealth make the Heart of Borneo not only rich in nature, but also in terms of social capital. What are the threats to the Heart of Borneo? There are many challenges, and the experience of the past shows us that the natural capital contained in the Heart of Borneo is strong commercial magnet. Timber companies, oil palm plantations, mining, hydropower and other infrastructure development are all key players and therefore potential threats to the Heart of Borneo landscape. There needs to be a proactive approach to cooperation with the business sector, because when business, government and civil society work together and lead to the same destination significant achievements can be made with both conservation and prosperity objectives in mind. Why Heart of Borneo Declaration of 2007 so unique? The Heart of Borneo Declaration made in 2007 was unique because for the first time, the three governments of Borneo, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia were united in a commitment to conserve and sustainably develop a vast area of bio diversity rich landscape. Conflict is no stranger to the island of Borneo, and there have been several disputes and conflicts between these three countries. The HoB Declaration not only brings together the three governments in Borneo around conservation issues, but also on the issue of sustainable development. It's not a common thing and is a component of a truly important trilateral agreement. The business sector (timber, palm oil, mining and pulp industry) is a major stakeholder in the Heart of Borneo but by looking at the business sector as a positive force, and encouraging it to commit to truly sustainable development, it can become a strong partner in securing the vision of the Heart of Borneo Declaration.
What can the public do to support the Heart of Borneo? First and foremost, knowing and recognizing the value of the Heart of Borneo globally in terms of its bio diversity wonders. Second, know the challenges to the preservation of natural and social capital within the Heart of Borneo. Third, be part of the solution. Everyone has a voice and they have the ability to choose. Individual actions can collectively build momentum that can change the status quo. The public has the opportunity to help develop solutions and innovations needed to realize the vision of the Heart of Borneo. The future of the Heart of Borneo depends on new ideas, new business approaches, new economic models and solutions relevant markets, livelihoods and climate. Four things you can do: 1. You can push your government to allocate political support, technical and political cooperation in the framework of the implementation of the Action Plan and implementation of the Heart of Borneo. 2. As a consumer, you can support the products that are environmentally friendly and relevant, eg. legal timber, pulp & paper, palm oil and mineral resources. This can be done through the behavior of individual consumers or through advocacy to increase trade and investment policies. 3. You can encourage governments and businesses to come forward, lead and develop funding mechanisms based on long term sustainability and the realities of climate change. 4. You can also interact and educate others about the importance of conservation and sustainable development in the Heart of Borneo. Contact persons: Panda CLICK! and WWF Indonesia Kalimantan Barat Syahirsyah Communication Coordinator untuk Program Kalimantan Barat syahirsyah@wwf.or.id, fivejim@yahoo.com 0811566832 WWF Indonesia Program Heart of Borneo Anastasia Joanita Communcation Officer for HoB Program ajoanita@wwf.or.id 081908481008