Reforesting for the climate of tomorrow: Recommendations for strengthening orangutan conservation and climate change resilience in Kutai National Park, Indonesia

Background

Kutai National Park in East Kalimantan, Indonesia has experienced extensive issues with human population expansion and encrouchment, which threatens both the parks immense biodiversity and the critically endangered Bornean Orangutan.  Moreover, due to climate change, the region is also undergoing severe drought conditions. This paper seeks to explore the vulnerability of the park's biodiversity to climate change and present potential strategies to minimize or even prevent the negative impacts. 

Goals & Methods

The goal of this paper is to provide guidance on climate change resilient reforestation practices through using Kutai National Park as a case study. The authors identify tree species that meet the following parameters: suitable for reforestation, contribute to Orangutan habitat restoration, and fire resilient. These species were identified with the aim of distributing them and using them for future reforestation practices. 

Conclusions & Takeaways

The authors found that the distribution of seeds and seedling was challenging. Additionally, they stress that restoration projects must prioritize reforestation and requires long-term monitoring. With that, the case study presents a useful overview of reforestation strategies and lessons learned from researchers and practitioners.