BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

Problem context

Mudskipper

Due to unique historical and cultural associations, the elephant and some marine species (such as dolphin) are an ideal flagship and indicator species for the conservation of forest, marine and associated biodiversity in Indonesia. An increase of community awareness and participation in species and habitat conservation for long-term survival would automatically promote the survival of human-animal life system. The expected outputs from the project may provide an ideal basis for mobilizing local and regional respect for flagship species into a better climate for their conservation. The project will integrate the capacity of local community into relevant biodiversity conservation or into cross-sector plans, programs and policies

We are committed to protecting and conserving biodiversity and natural habitats that are critical to the survival of many species. Since 2001, Yagasu has focused on the conservation of endangered or vulnerable species. Through conservation programmes, we also work to protect rare species, be they animals, plants or micro-organisms. With the support of scientists and conservationists, we work to restore populations of these species and prevent them from becoming extinct.

Project objective

The objective is to protect, safeguard, prevent and limit the damage and loss of species and its habitat. This project is a model of the participatory development of local stakeholders to ensure the long-term conservation of habitat corridor, through biodiversity assessment and forest and marine monitoring. Integrated activities will aim to build stakeholder commitment towards appreciation of the habitat requirements for flagship species and towards a consensus as to how to involve local communities in preventing habitat fragmentation. The project sites can be considered locally on the key areas in where possibilities of habitat destruction, illegal logging and land encroachment are high and likely to frequently occur in many places in Indonesia.

Habitat conservation is an important part of our efforts. Healthy and well-maintained habitats are key to species survival. We work to maintain and restore natural habitats, such as forests, rivers and coral reefs, so that their ecosystems remain balanced and support the lives of diverse organisms.

Project activities

We set-up and mobilize local community groups in the villages to conduct routine monitoring key species and its habitat. Before going to the field, all monitoring units will be trained on law and regulation, reporting and SOP of monitoring. The field action is to combine Yagasu team, government and local community capacity for-, and participation in conducting join field conservation actions. The join team will:

Implement integrated programs of in-situ and ex-situ elephant and other flagship species conservation
Restore the degraded native forest and establish forest corridor for elephant and other key species conservation
support captive elephant management with special focus on elephant health care, elephant nutrition, infrastructure development, mahout welfare, training for mahouts and local vet/paramedics.
Support government institutions to handle human-animal conflicts
Conduct conservation awareness program to sustain a public mandate for habitat protection, in favour of elephant and other flagship species.
Conduct various research and field assessment related to species and habitat protection
Transplant and conserve coral reef and seagrass ecosystem as part of blue carbon program
Establish and manage Community Patrolling Unit (CPU) for forest, coastal and watershed conservation actions
Support village government to set-up legal tools (Village Spatial Plan – VSP, Ecosystem Protected Area – EP, and Village Regulation – VR) that support conservation efforts at local sites.

Community Patrolling Unit

To protect planted mangroves and existing vegetation cover, Yagasu mobilizes local community groups in the villages to conduct routine patrolling actions. The objectives are to protect, safeguard, prevent and limit the damage of mangrove vegetation cover.

Before going to the field, the patrolling unit is trained in SOP of patrolling, law, and regulation, reporting system. The patrolling team will be accompanied by Forest Ranger and Local Police. The prohibition signboard is put in several strategic locations to warn people not to cut the trees. If there is any specific case, the patrolling team will give verbal warning to the people who break the law and explain the consequences if they violate the law. For the case that seriously breaking the law, the team will report to the Local Police Station to implement law enforcement.

Coral reef conservation

Supported by SEE (Society of Entrepreneurs and Ecology) Foundation from China through BPAF (Blue Partnership Action Program), we conducted an integrated coastal and marine conservation project in East Java – Indonesia. Yagasu mobilizes local community group to conduct coral reef transplantation, turtle breeding program and sea biota conservation, as part of blue carbon program. The carbon accumulation of seagrass meadows along the coastal sites is also under exploration.

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Environmental campaigns

As part of our conservation efforts, we utilize elephants to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting forests and the environment. Elephants are involved in educational activities, such as environmental parades and tree planting programs, which attract the attention of the wider community. In this way, we combine the uniqueness of elephants as wildlife icons with the message of environmental conservation, encouraging community participation in protecting nature.

Village Policy Initiative

We facilitate Village Government to set-up Village Spatial Plan (VSP), Mangrove Protection Area (MPA) and Village Regulation (VR) The set of village policy is as a legal tool for long-term carbon mangroves. The process of designing VSP and MPA will involve community in participatory mapping. The documents will be approved by the Village Leader and community representatives, and then endorsed by the District Government

Village Spatial Plan (VSP)

Mangrove Protected Area (MPA)

Biodiversity assessment

Mangrove crabs

Mangrove crabs, also known as mud crabs, are a type of crab commonly found in mangrove forests and muddy areas in coastal regions. Mangrove crabs have hard shells, wide crab legs, and colours that vary from brown to purplish red. They play an important role in mangrove forest ecosystems with various benefits, such as controlling populations of other organisms, recycling nutrients, and assisting in bioremediation and habitat preservation. Mangrove crabs are also a source of food and income for many local communities in coastal areas. Mangrove crabs are a species that must be protected and conserved to maintain the balance of coastal ecosystems.

Oysters

Oysters are a type of mollusc that live in marine environments, usually found on the seafloor or on muddy substrates. They have a skeletal shell with two symmetrical shells that can open and close. Oysters are filter feeders, which means they filter food particles from the water through their gills. The main food of oysters is phytoplankton and zooplankton. Oysters play an important role in coastal ecosystems by helping to clean the water and creating habitats for other organisms. In addition, oysters are also a popular food in various seafood dishes.

Our biodiversity flagship

Sumatran elephant

Brahmini kite eagle

Macaca

Dolphin

Batagur borneoensis

Mangrove Snake

We successfully established Coastal Carbon and Biodiversity Corridor (CCBC) along the 821 km East Coast of North Sumatra- and Aceh province. During the CBD conference in China, Yagasu received an award from UNCBD “100+ Global Noteworthy Practices” in 2021. Our 16 years mangrove restoration and conservation projects are not only increasing ecosystem resilience but also bring back the population of some key species that were not seen for long time such dolphin and crocodile to the mangrove habitat. Moreover, the stable condition of mangrove ecosystem also provides sustainable commercial biodiversity production from mangrove ecosystem: 7 – 12 tons of crabs, 3 – 5 tons of shrimps and 500 – 700 tons of fishes per weeks for all the year around.