The very existence of the PEOPLE of the FOREST hangs in the balance.
As their rainforest home disappears before their eyes, the Sumatran Orangutan slides towards extinction. Only 6,624 now survive in the wild.
But there is still Hope! Please Donate Now!
These gentle ‘people of the forest’ live almost entirely in rainforest trees. But they are fast running out of rainforest! Deforestation, mainly for Oil Palm plantations, has claimed a staggering 48% of Sumatra’s forests in the last 25 years.
Help rescue their rainforest today!
Rainforest Rescue, in partnership with the Orangutan Information Centre (OIC) of North Sumatra, is on an urgent mission: restore and protect rainforest damaged and destroyed by illegal clearing of the Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) for Oil Palm plantations.
The GLNP provides vital habitat for many critically endangered species including the Sumatran Tiger, Rhinoceros, Elephant and Orangutan. Oil Palms will be removed, snare traps removed, rainforest seedlings planted and maintained and the area patrolled and monitored – all by the local community, creating local employment!
The project is being directed by Panut Hadisiswoyo, a finalist in the prestigious 2012 UN Hero of the Forests Award and founder of the OIC. Panut, a renowned rainforest and Orangutan conservationist and educator, works with local communities to protect the amazing rainforest and Critically Endangered Orangutans of Sumatra.
Help ensure the success of this globally significant project and give the Orangutans of Sumatra a real chance of survival.
Rescuing rainforest for Orangutans
The project involves the removal of 5,460 illegally planted Oil Palms, the propagation of 60,000 seedlings and the restoration of 60 hectares of Orangutan habitat. The area will be patrolled and monitored to protect the restored areas and prevent further deforestation. All of this is done by local communities living alongside the national park, creating local employment and a more sustainable future.
Rainforest Recue needs your help to fund this ground breaking work.
Just $82 will pay for the removal of 10 illegally planted Oil Palms.
$100 will pay for 50 rainforest trees to be propagated and planted.
Restoring one hectare of Orangutan rainforest will cost $1000.
This is extraordinary value for rainforest restoration. And remember, this project doesn’t just restore rainforest – it is important for the very survival of the Sumatran Orangutan, Tiger, Elephant, and Rhinoceros.
Who are the “People of the Forest”
The word Orangutan comes from the Malay language and means ‘person of the forest’ – from the words ‘orang’ meaning person and ‘hutan’ meaning forest. One of our closest relatives, the Orangutan shares 96.9% of our genetic makeup. Orangutans are only found on the Indonesian islands of Borneo and Sumatra.
The Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii) has been classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ and is the most endangered of the two species. Orangutans are members of the great ape family of primates that includes their African cousins the Chimpanzees, Bonobos and Gorillas. The Sumatran Orangutan could be the first ‘great ape’ species to become extinct in the wild.
Palm oil driving forest destruction.
The exploding development of palm oil plantations is the single biggest cause of deforestation in Sumatra. Palm Oil companies illegally cut down and burn forest within national parks to plant Oil Palms.
The oil from the seeds is used in biofuels, soaps, toothpastes, chocolate, biscuits, muesli and
cosmetics.
Other threats to Orangutans include illegal poaching for pets, meat or use in medicinal products.
There is still hope if we act now! Join with Rainforest Rescue and a 2012 UN Hero of the Forests finalist to rescue rainforest for Orangutans.
