Regenerating Rainforests

As a part of Health In Harmony’s Conservation Stimulus Package to address the pandemic, we are ramping up efforts to buy back chainsaws. This package provides former loggers with financial support to create or grow their own sustainable businesses.

In Pangkalan Jihing, three loggers recently participated in our Chainsaw Buyback program: Pak Syamsir (logging since 2015), Pak Sariman (logging since 2012), and Pak Asri (logging since 2003). These community members had already started transitioning away from logging, but they were still occasionally renting their chainsaws to friends who wanted to log in Gunung Palung National Park (GPNP). The ASRI Medical Center's Forest Guardians and a park ranger approached them and told them about our Chainsaw Buyback program.

In the wake of COVID-19, these loggers decided to participate so they could receive additional support for their businesses: a coffee shop, animal husbandry business, and agroforestry business (fruit trees and vegetables).

In Pelerang, former logger Pak Idris decided to participate after a national park officer found him logging inside GPNP. The officer took the time to educate Idris on the impact that logging could have on his health at age 62, as well as how detrimental it is to the forest and the communities that live around it.

After thoughtful consideration and support from his wife, he decided to participate in our microenterprise program as the 56th participant and received 10 million rupiah in exchange for his chainsaw. With these funds, he will a start a new business. Idris has decided to open a small shop, with help from ASRI’s Chainsaw Buyback Coordinator in purchasing materials and items he would like to sell.

In Rantau Panjang, former logger Abdulah had been logging since he was 15 years old, in order to financially support his family. However, working with a chainsaw for the past 25 years has negatively impacted his health and posture: he cannot stand up straight due to constant back pain.

Abdulah was approached by the ASRI Forest Guardians with an opportunity to give up logging and still support his family through an alternative livelihood. At first, he was unsure due to so many orders for timber from outside sources. However, Abdulah finally decided to participate in the Chainsaw Buyback program and begin working in a new industry.

We are incredibly grateful for Mahardika Putra, ASRI Conservation Director, for sharing these stories from now-former loggers who live in and around Gunung Palung National Park.

We also appreciate our many donors, supporters, and followers who contributed to our COVID-19 Emergency Fund, which enabled us to make emergency healthcare and conservation programs like this one reality!

Links:

• Meet Pak Hasanudin, the 151st former logger to participate!