Conserving Intact Rainforest for Orangutans

The Singkil Rawa peat swamp forest is one of the most unique and biodiversity-rich rainforests on our planet! Thanks to your generosity, we are supporting the restoration of 100 hectares of this landscape. In 2023, our partners OIC have removed 4,000 illegally planted oil palm trees across 30 hectares of the site.

To enrich and kickstart the rewilding process on this land, 33,000 tree seedlings have been raised and planted out. The planting mix was made up of 22 different locally appropriate tree species, 19 of which are important food sources for orangutans including figs and petai – or stinky bean tree (Parkia speciosa). The vision for this project is to see this landscape restored to a thriving ecosystem, providing long-term habitat for orangutans and a whole host of other precious wildlife and biodiversity.

A further 15,000 seedlings have been raised and planted out in our Forever Forest site to enhance connectivity and biodiversity. Fast-growing pioneer trees like Marak planted just three years ago here are now tall and strong enough to provide nesting sites for orangutans. Our conservation teams have spotted a number of recent nests in the canopy which gives us great hope that the local orangutan population here can rely on this site in the future for food and shelter.

This work has only been made possible thanks to your support. You are part of the GlobalGiving community that helped us raise $2,392 in 2023 - let's do even more in 2024!