How the ACB, through the Small Grants Programme and its grantee YEL, is shaping the next conservationists at Gunung Leuser National Park in Indonesia to contribute to the overall protection of the park and its biodiversity.
To improve stakeholder awareness on the urgency and importance of conserving the vast biodiversity of the national park, YEL launched a comprehensive environmental education campaign in GLNP. Workshops were conducted together with the community stakeholders to jointly identify the issues and problems in and around the area then map out concrete solutions to address them.
Through this participatory process, the stakeholders—community and park authorities alike—concur on perspectives, common goals, and commitment to GLNP biodiversity conservation.
Acknowledging the AMS’ thrust of mainstreaming biodiversity into education, YEL signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Head of Education Officer of Langkat District to include the Tropical Rainforest Text Book in the school curricula. Students from elementary, junior high school up to senior high school use the text books to increase their knowledge about the environment, eventually helping them appreciate and value biodiversity. The initiative also supported the Training of Trainers for 30 elementary school teachers from 15 schools, making them more effective environmental educators. Although mostly conducted online at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, both teachers and students found the Tropical Rainforest Text Book helpful and enjoyable.
To augment the virtual discussions, students were invited to visit Pusat Pendidikan Lingkungan Hidup’s (PPLH) Ecofarming Center at the Timbang Lawan Village where information materials about the environment were presented and students were able to see first-hand various environmental conservation activities. The Ecofarming Center also serves as the headquarters of the TNGL Care Community Forum secretariat.
Also part of YEL’s intervention was a six-day Conservation Camp which was attended by 300 students in the Bahorok sub-district and other surrounding areas. Interactive discussions, presentations, and games madethe camp an enjoyable experience while learning more about the biodiversity of GLNP.
Among the highlights of the Conservation Camp is the selection of 30 Conservation Ambassadors. The Conservation Ambassadors were chosen through a rigorous process, assessing their understanding of conservation based on writings that the participants made and published on their social media platforms. To sustain their engagement, the Conservation Ambassadors developed their own programmes for conservation, which include promoting GLNP’s conservation activities.
