Approach

GPOCP takes a multi-faceted approach to orangutan conservation. We have developed a variety of community based initiatives that enable us to respond to both immediate threats (e.g., illegal land clearance) as well as longer-term ones (e.g., attitudes of villagers towards the forest). GPOCP uses positive reinforcement to help people understand the importance of their forest and solution-based methods to find viable alternatives to human activities that detrimentally impact the forest.

Central to each of GPOCP's initiatives is our commitment to partnering with all of Gunung Palung's stakeholders, including local communities, NGOs, and National Park and other government offices. This approach promotes cooperation and fairness in all aspects of our work. Our core field staff lives in the communities in which we work and many are native to these communities. GPOCP has therefore become a valued member of the local society, allowing us to effectively identify problems and respond to the concerns and needs of communities. A very important part of our approach is to provide opportunities for local people to become involved and invested in our programs, which fosters long-term sustainability. We also emphasize capacity building to help villagers, government officials, students, and educators to develop skills needed to take conservation action on their own.

Elementary students in the remote village of Laman Satong read a comic books with an anti-poaching message produced by GPOCP. (Photo: Hudi Danu Warywanto)