Song of the Forest: Restoring Harmony With Nature in Sumatra

Verse | BITRA and the Rimba Collective 

Ibu Iza’s story, like so many others shared by people who work the land here, is tied to the fate of nutmeg, and of one bird in particular: the white-rumped shama (Copsychus malabaricus), known locally as burung murai batu. Around 10 years ago, driven by demand from rare bird collectors, poachers began taking these birds from the forest. Soon, they were all gone, and local nutmeg trees began dying off in droves. 

The people of Jambo Papeun Village insist the two events are connected – white-rumped shama are a natural predator of a beetle grub (Batocera hercules) that burrows into nutmeg trees; without the burung murai batu, this grub has devastated plantations throughout the region, impacting livelihoods that for generations had relied on what nature provides. 

In response, BITRA and the Rimba Collective established the Jambo Papeun Village Forest Project in September 2023. Covering a total area of 13,594 hectares in the Meukek District of South Aceh, the project area forms an essential buffer zone along the southern edge of Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP), which is recognised by UNESCO as part of the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra. But despite its protected status, the GLNP is not immune to deforestation. Last year, The Rainforest Action Network (RAN) reported that a large number of small-scale palm oil operators continue to clear the forest, a process RAN described as “death by a thousand cuts.” 

With that in mind, increased protection in GLNP buffer zones is essential. Supported by funding from the Rimba Collective, BITRA has committed to conserve 12,941 hectares and restore a further 653 hectares of forest in the Jambo Papeun village forest (hutan desa), while also working to raise awareness and positively impact local communities through support for more sustainable livelihood opportunities. 

In addition to illegal logging and the theft of songbirds for the wildlife trade, the project faces challenges like deforestation, forest degradation, forest fires and the unsustainable use of non-timber forest products (NTFPs). To address these issues, BITRA is working to improve forest management institutions and strengthen protective measures, while also implementing reforestation and agroforestry initiatives, supporting local businesses, raising awareness of forest conservation and empowering local women through education and skills development.

Bridge | Connecting Communities, Closing the Generation Gap

“I was born and raised in this village,” says 55-year-old Pak Aziman, principal of the local primary school. “My parents were farmers, and I grew up surrounded by nature. I saw firsthand how environmental destruction leads to disasters like floods and hardships for the community.” In addition to being a schoolteacher, Pak Aziman is the head of the local village forest management unit, or Lembaga Pengelola Hutan Desa (LPHD), which is working alongside BITRA to prevent these disasters from recurring.

The LPHD patrol team began monitoring activities back in January 2024. Over the past year, they have seen their fair share of challenges. “Our forest is vast,” says Pak Aziman, “which makes it difficult to monitor everything.” BITRA has supported the LPHD in this task by providing training on GPS tracking and data collection, and equipping them with patrol gear like motorbikes, backpacks, boots and torches. 

The LPHD is also working to educate communities about the ecosystem role played by burung murai batu. “Without awareness,” explains Pak Aziman, “the problems will repeat themselves – for example, if we reintroduce these birds without educating the community, poaching could start again.” To reinforce this message, the LPHD have been empowered to prosecute criminals according to local, customary law (in one recent case, a violator provided food for the whole village as compensation). If this approach doesn’t have the desired effect, the LPHD hands repeat offenders over to the local Forestry Police (KPH) for criminal prosecution.

In addition to punishment, Aziman believes prevention is the best cure. And this begins with educating the younger generation in Jambo Papeun. “We teach children from an early age about environmental responsibility,” he explains. “This includes proper waste disposal, avoiding plastic waste and maintaining the ecosystem by caring for nature.” He hopes collaboration between local authorities and international corporate donors can upscale these environmental education programmes and achieve impact at scale in the long term. 

Despite having a literal mountain to climb, Pak Aziman is optimistic about the future and fully committed to his mission with the LPHD. “I could have moved to the city,” he admits, “but I chose to stay and help protect the forest. When I pass away, I want it to be here in this village, and I want to know I did everything I could to protect our environment. If we succeed in preserving it, it will be a great legacy for future generations.” 

Chorus | A Story of Diversity and Biodiversity

Those who venture into the forest surrounding Jambo Papeun are treated to a symphony of jungle sounds: the morning chorus of a siamang family in the treetops; the hooting baritone of a male orangutan; and the arpeggio flutter of hornbill wings, skating over the canopy above. These rich forests provide a refuge to 37 species currently on the IUCN Red List (19 mammals, 10 birds and eight reptiles/amphibians). Various important tree and plant species are also found here, including meranti (Shorea sp), rattan (Calamus rotang) and jernang (Daemonorops spp). To improve protection, alternating LPHD patrol teams go into the forest for 15 days at a time, where they record animal sightings, droppings and tracks, and document the tree and plant species they see. Data from these patrols are logged using GPS and SmartMobile (PC3C).

Protected animals in the Jambo Papeun Village Forest:

• Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)
• Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii)
• Sumatran elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus)
• Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)
• Sun bear (Helarctos malayanus)
• Siamang gibbon (Hylobates syndactylus)
• Hornbill (Buceros bicornis)

Coordinating the patrols is Dyah Lestari, the Forest Management and Biodiversity Specialist at BITRA Indonesia. For the past 2 years, she has been working closely with the LPHD in Jambo Papeun, organising a team of around 70 rangers, all of whom are men. “At first, this was quite a challenge,” she explains, “because in Jambo Papeun, it’s still considered taboo for women to be involved in community activities with men.” In a field dominated by men, Mbak Dyah is determined to make a difference. “I believe women can also take on roles that are typically assigned to men,” she says. “While there are some physical limitations, women should be able to contribute equally.” Over time, she has won the respect of the community and the patrol teams – who now refer to her affectionately, and with a certain amount of reverence, as ‘Mama Ranger’.

Dyah coordinates the forest patrols using a grid system, splitting 13,594 ha of forest into sections that can then be mapped out and monitored on the ground. After a year of criss-crossing Dyah’s map, data from these activities are revealing the bigger picture of conservation in Jambo Papeun. “Since forest patrols began,” she says, “poaching and illegal logging have significantly decreased.” Dyah confirms that, in the first 6 months of patrols, the team recorded six cases of hunting in the forest; since February 2024, there have been none. She believes these positive impacts are just the beginning: “conservation and economic change take time. This long-term commitment between BITRA and the Rimba Collective allows for gradual, meaningful progress that will not only help us, but also set an example for similar conservation efforts elsewhere.”

Middle Eight | The Benefits of Long-term Collaboration

Around half the people working in Jambo Papeun live below the poverty line. But it hasn’t always been this way. “In the past, nearly everyone in this area was a nutmeg farmer,” says Pak Ozhi, whose parents would harvest 20–30 kilogrammes of nutmeg in a single day, then sell their produce for up to IDR 1 million (US$60). “But now, because of the disease, people are struggling. I hope BITRA can help us find a solution so our nutmeg trees can be healthy again. It would greatly help the local economy.”

BITRA is already working on solutions. Using funding from the Rimba Collective, they have established a field school, where nutmeg farmers like Pak Ozhi can learn best practices covering everything from land preparation to pest management and post-harvest processing. This includes a technique called ‘pala sambung,’ which involves grafting wild rootstock onto high-quality branches. This method makes the trees more resistant to pests, thereby improving yields. For farmers like Ibu Iza, BITRA have also set up social forestry business groups, or Kelompok Usaha Perhutanan Sosial (KUPS), to support the transition from nutmeg to more reliable commodities like rattan, durian and patchouli.

Some farmers still refuse to give up on nutmeg, and insist the reintroduction of burung murai batu could offer a long-term solution. “If the birds return, we might be able to revive nutmeg farming,” says one of them, an experienced farmer called Pak Win. “The government, BITRA and local farmers should work together to restore the balance in nature. If we can do this, I believe our village will prosper again through nutmeg cultivation.” 

Refrain | Setting the Stage for Sumatra’s Songbirds

BITRA has listened to the concerns of local people like Pak Win, and are working with government officials to prepare an initial plan for the reintroduction of burung murai batu to the forests of Jambo Papeun. This includes a breeding  and reintroduction programme, specifically in the hutan desa and surrounding areas. Together with the LPHD, BITRA are also pushing for new, regional regulations to prohibit the capture and trade of these birds.

In Jambo Papeun, nutmeg farmers like Ibu Iza, Pak Ozhi and Pak Win have all suffered since the burung murai batu disappeared. Like Pak Aziman, they have firsthand experience of how environmental degradation can lead to financial hardship, and are determined to restore and protect their forest. “Nature provides for us,” says Pak Ozhi, “and in return, we must protect it.” 

On a hillside that runs like a curtain between the village and the hutan desa, Pak Win leans against one of his rotten nutmeg trees, which is oozing red sap from a hole bored by the beetle larvae. “When we preserve the environment, we also safeguard our livelihoods,” he says. “This is why conservation is essential for the future of nutmeg farming and the well-being of our community.”

Coda | Fertile Ground for Nature-Based Solutions

Recent hardships experienced by the people of Jambo Papeun demonstrate the intricate linkages between nature and local communities. By removing just one species from the forest, a cascade of negative ecosystem impacts was set in motion; with no burung murai batu to eat the grubs which fed on nutmeg trees, crops dwindled and an agroforestry industry that had stood for generations began to collapse, causing immeasurable loss to economies rooted in natural commodities.

And yet, this process can also be reversed. By providing ways to mitigate the damage and halt the decline, BITRA Indonesia and the Rimba Collective have a chance to generate new financial opportunities through nature-based solutions, protect the forest and restore nature’s capacity to provide. The seeds have already been sown. The farmers of Aceh are waiting and praying for new initiatives to bear fruit. For the next generation of children on their long walk home from school, it is hoped the forests will soon echo once more with birdsong.

About BITRA Indonesia

BITRA Indonesia, formally known as the Indonesian Rural Skills Development Foundation (YABITRAPI) is committed to helping underprivileged and marginalised populations in rural areas. Founded in 1986, BITRA was officially registered as a Foundation (Yayasan) in 1992 and recognised through the Decree of the Minister of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia in 2019. Aligned with the international categorisation of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), BITRA is dedicated to serving the needs of rural communities in Indonesia.

About the Rimba Collective 

The Rimba Collective is an innovative, long-term collaboration between leading consumer goods manufacturers, NGOs and forest-dependent communities in Southeast Asia. Our aim is to protect landscapes, livelihoods and biodiversity through a portfolio of high-quality conservation and restoration projects. Over the next 25 years and beyond, this approach will achieve lasting, long-term impact at scale, with over 550,000 hectares of rich forest landscapes protected and 32,000 local livelihoods improved. 

To find out more, and to join the Rimba Collective, please get in touch.