Burung Indonesia

Hutan Harapan is the first Ecosystem Restoration concession area in Indonesia to be managed for the purpose of ecosystem restoration—the process of reclamation of habitats and ecosystem functions by restoring the land and waters on which plants and animals depend. In general, the management of Hutan Harapan is oriented towards ecosystem-based forest management to increase the economic value of the forest, restoration of flora and fauna that have important values and provide economic benefits for communities around the forest.

This area is the remaining part of the natural lowland tropical forest in Sumatra after severe deforestation. In the period 1900-1997, the forest was reduced from 16 million hectares to only 2.2 million hectares. About 20 percent of Sumatra’s biodiversity is still in the concession area and must be maintained. Burung Indonesia, Birdlife International and The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) formed the KEHI Foundation (Forest Ecosystem Conservation Indonesia) and initiated conservation efforts in this area.

In 2007, the Ministry of Forestry granted a Timber Forest Product Utilization Business Permit (IUPHHK) covering an area of 52,170 hectares in the Musi Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra Province, followed by a permit covering an area of 46,385 hectares in Batanghari and Sarolangun Regencies, Jambi Province. With a total concession area of 98,555 hectares, Hutan Harapan was established, and managed by PT Restoration Ecosystem Indonesia (PT REKI).

This area includes the Meranti, Kapas, and Lalan sub-watersheds and the Musi and Kandang watersheds, which are catchment areas and important water sources for the people of Jambi and South Sumatra. The flow of the Batang Kapas and Meranti rivers then passes through Batanghari Leko, and it is this river that supports people’s lives, both for clean water, fisheries, agriculture, plantations, and transportation facilities.

The biodiversity richness of Hutan Harapan includes 307 species of birds, 64 species of mammals, 123 species of fish, 55 species of amphibians, 71 species of reptiles and 728 species of trees. Some of the flora and fauna are endemic species and have high threat status based on IUCN categories, such as Helmeted Hornbill, Wreathed Hornbill, Sumatran Tiger, Asian Elephant, King Cobra, Sun Bear, Storm’s Stork, Asiatic Softshell Turtle, Jelutong, Bornean Ironwood, Merawan and Meranti Sapat.

The Batin Sembilan, indigenous people who live in or around the Hutan Harapan area. They use forest products such as rattan, honey, sap and medicinal plants and hunt to meet their needs but applying their local wisdom. Apart from them, other communities that depend on the forest are Malays and migrants. With education and assistance, it is hoped that their existence can continue to coexist with efforts to preserve Hutan Harapan.