The Whitley Fund For Nature Award


PROTECTING ORANGUTANS AND RAINFORESTS THROUGH SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS

On May 1st, 2019, Wendi Tamariska, our Sustainable Livelihoods Manager, received the prestigious Whitley Fund For Nature Award in recognition of his work in conserving orangutans and their rainforest habitat in Gunung Palung National Park and the surrounding landscape!

The Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) is a UK-registered charity that champions outstanding grassroots leaders in nature conservation across the Global South with the Charity Patron as HRH The Princess Royal and trustee’s including Sir David Attenborough.

PRISTINE FORESTS

The mountains of Gunung Palung National Park make up some of the last stands of primary rainforest in the world. Supporting many endangered species, including the Bornean orangutan, they also play a vital role in regulating the local and global climate. Yet these forests are threatened by expanding oil palm plantations, mining activities and illegal logging. Not only does this impact the forest, but the indigenous people living around the National Park.

 

Female orangutan with an infant, in Gunung Palung National Park, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Photo by Tim Laman

SECURE MARKETS

Since Wendi joined the Gunung Palung Orangutan Conservation Programme in 2010, he has demonstrated to both community members and government officials that conservation goals can be achieved through the provision of genuine, sustainable, economic alternatives. He has connected traditional artisans to local and national markets and persuaded local restaurants to favor organic produce from the farmers he supports.

SUSTAINABLE FUTURES

Wendi’s work has enabled community members to put down their chainsaws and give up backbreaking jobs in mining and logging. For the last seven years the National Handicraft Association has purchased from Wendi’s artisan groups on a monthly basis and in 2017, 11 former illegal loggers signed agreements to halt deforestation and protect orangutans in exchange for livelihoods support.

WITH SUPPORT FROM WHITLEY, THE SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS PROJECT WILL:

  • Scale up this model to new sites and reduce the incidence of illegal logging and encroachment by villagers through the promotion of alternative livelihoods.
  • Increase the number of traditional artisans benefiting from the sale of non-timber forest products from 25 to 45 households.
  • Double the number of community members reached through awareness and education activities promoting the protection of orangutans.

WHY IT MATTERS:

  • Gunung Palung National Park is also home to proboscis monkeys, pangolins, hornbills and sun bears.
  • Orangutan populations have declined by over 50% in the last 60 years.
  • Gunung Palung National Park and the surrounding area is home to an estimated 5,000 Critically Endangered Bornean orangutans.

“It is my mission to work with communities to protect their forests, natural resources, and their traditional way of life.”

Wendi receiving the Whitley Fund for Nature Award at the Royal Geographic Society in London, by Her Royal Highness Princess Royal Anne.

At the Whitley Award Ceremony, when asked about his interest in nature and conservation, Wendi replied: “When I was 20 years old, living in East Kalimantan, I saw the local community struggling against the encroachment of a large mining company. This company wanted to take over their land and exploit natural resources. As a local Dayak, our culture relies on healthy, thriving forests and it was then that I understood what this community was fighting to protect. These forests are not only homes to orangutans and other endangered animals, but also provide for the simple livelihoods of my people.”
With his Whitley Award, Wendi and his team will now scale up the Sustainable Livelihoods program and extend this successful model to the more remote reaches of the National Park.

Watch Wendi’s heartfelt speech at the Whitley Award Ceremony:

Thank you so much to the Whitley Award and Arcus Foundation for this award, our fantastic staff and for Dr. Tim Laman, Kent Wagner, Partik Sköld and Apolosius for your beautiful videos and photos of the project! Thank you all of our amazing partner and supporters for enabling GPOCP to continue our important work!