We are marking World Rainforest Day on 22 June by celebrating the growing number of people working to save wildlife and natural habitats as Guardians of the Forest and calling on others across the globe to join the campaign.
Our work with our Indonesian partners to protect and conserve the biodiversity of Indonesian rainforests, notably the Bornean orangutan. Our holistic approach to conservation goes further than hands-on rescue and rehabilitation of the great apes, with our team tackling the root causes of the biodiversity crisis. By following the recently adopted UN Global Biodiversity Framework at COP15, IAR facilitates indigenous-led conservation projects that empower remote, isolated communities to take control of their local environment. By investing in initiatives which steer communities away from practices that are harmful, such as illegal logging and hunting, these communities are improving their livelihoods whilst also thriving as custodians of biodiversity.
Our Guardians of the Forest campaign celebrates the many people of all ages working with the team in Indonesia to protect, restore and conserve the rainforest and its biodiversity. Their activities include restoring precious mangrove forests which are vital to the wellbeing, food security and protection of coastal communities; educating children living in remote villages adjacent to the forest where there are no schools; patrolling the rainforest to collect data on biodiversity and protect the forest from poachers, illegal loggers and illegal mining, and establishing a release programme for orangutans that have undergone rehabilitation at YIARI’s centre in West Borneo.
On World Rainforest Day, we are turning the spotlight on one group of Guardians in particular, an extraordinary group of women collectively known as ‘The Power of Mama.’ This first ever all-female firefighting group in Borneo consists of nearly 90 women of all ages who are playing an active role in forest fire protection. Fires are one of the greatest risks to the rainforest and to the survival of the orangutan species.
Says CEO Gavin Bruce: “Every year, wildfires destroy thousands of acres of Indonesia’s tropical rainforests, causing countless human and wildlife casualties and releasing millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. The return of the El Nino climate phenomenon which is expected to strengthen in the latter half of 2023 threatens to send global temperatures soaring higher than ever in 2024, increasing the risk of severe heatwaves, droughts and fires. The need for groups like the Power of Mama has never been greater.”
Every day the Mamas patrol the forest and farmland around their local villages on motorbikes and on foot, identifying fire hotspots, putting out fires, encouraging farmers to use agricultural techniques that don’t involve ‘slash and burn’ to ensure their forests stay intact. During the rainy season, the women also support communities impacted by flooding and provide education and resources to improve sanitation and quality of life. They teach communities about the importance of appropriate rubbish disposal and show them how to clear gutters and waterways of rubbish to prevent flooding.
The damaging effects of climate change are being felt across the globe and, while our Guardians of the Forest movement began in Indonesia, IAR is working to build a community of people all over the world who will take action to protect the world’s biodiversity and its natural habitats.
Says Phily Day, Project Lead on Guardians of the Forest: “Guardians of the Forest is a community built on hope for the future of us all, animals, people and the environment. The Power of Mama is an inspiring example of women taking action to protect their local forests in order to safeguard the future of their families, their wildlife and their local environment. We should all follow their lead, both by taking action on a local level, as well as supporting the efforts of others in different parts of the world, fighting in the frontline to conserve and restore threatened habitats and protect endangered species.”
Wildlife TV presenter and filmmaker Hannah Stitfall is an ambassador for our Guardians of the Forest campaign. She says: “My hope for the future is a world where humans and wildlife can live and thrive alongside one another without any form of conflict. We are just one species on this planet out of around eight million and each and every one deserves to thrive.
“Guardians of the Forest is a brilliant campaign which is making a tangible difference to the lives of so many, wildlife and humans, and I can’t wait to see how the campaign progresses and the impact it has!”
Sign up to support the campaign: https://www.internationalanimalrescue.org/guardiansoftheforest