Tree Nursery Center to Help the Rehabilitation of Damaged Forests

In 2023, PROFAUNA Indonesia collaborates with Petungsewu Wildlife Education Center (P-WEC) to implement a tree nursery program aimed at supporting the rehabilitation of damaged forests. The tree nursery is located in the P-WEC forest area in Malang, East Java.

The tree nursery, supported by the International Primate Protection League (IPPL), not only provides tree seedlings to assist forest farmers but also prepares fruit tree seedlings that can serve as food for the long-tailed monkeys in the forest.

"The forests in Java, including those designated as protected forests, have indeed been encroached upon by the forest farmers and utilized for agricultural purposes. Meanwhile, these forests also serve as habitats for primates such as long-tailed monkeys, leading to conflicts between the monkeys and farmers," said Rosek Nursahid, an ecologist from PROFAUNA Indonesia.

The conflict between monkeys and farmers arises because monkeys consume agricultural commodities such as carrots, corn, potatoes, and others. As a result, farmers in certain areas experience crop failure.

The impact of the conflict between farmers and primates leads some farmers to eventually kill monkeys deemed detrimental. The monkeys are killed through poisoning and shooting.

"In addition to preventing conflicts between forest farmers and primates, the tree seedlings provided by PROFAUNA are also expected to help forest farmers in restoring the forest," said PROFAUNA Indonesia field staff, Mochamad Anastiana.

Chairperson of the PROFAUNA Indonesia Foundation, Nada Prinia, added that the provision of tree seedlings for forest rehabilitation demonstrates a strong commitment from PROFAUNA Indonesia in assisting the local community.

"We believe that forest management will be better when it involves an active role from the local community or those residing around the forest," said Nada.