Would you like to help protect the habitat of orangutans in the Indonesian rainforest and support the local communities at the same time? Then the nature conservation project in Kalimantan is the right place for you. Here you will be involved in the protection of endangered species and the restoration of tropical forests. You will immerse yourself in an authentic life surrounded by nature and also support the local communities in developing sustainable livelihoods. As part of the dedicated local team, you will look after the tree nursery, help with planting, teach English and make a real contribution to the conservation of this unique habitat.
This combination of nature conservation and cultural exchange will provide you with an unforgettable adventure. You will get to know life in the tropical rainforest up close and have the chance to experience the unique wildlife of this ecosystem. Your practical commitment to environmental protection in Kalimantan will not only benefit nature, but also the local people.
Our partner organization has been pursuing a holistic approach to nature conservation in Kalimantan, in the Indonesian part of Borneo, since 1997. The work focuses on three main topics. These are the protection of Indonesia's endangered wildlife, the restoration of tropical forests and the support of local communities in order to ultimately achieve effective, sustainable and long-term results. These issues are being addressed in two project locations. The Tanjung Puting National Park and the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve. The organization's main office in Borneo is located right between the two major settlements of Pangkalan Bun and Kumai. The project work includes the rehabilitation and release of wild animals such as orangutans, sea turtles, endangered bird species and Malayan bears. In addition, native forests are being reforested, existing forests are being monitored and a contribution is being made to the protection of native plant species. The community development programs are about strengthening self-determination. Local people are helped to develop alternative sources of income through agroforestry and organic farming. At the same time, environmental education is also offered to the local communities.
The volunteer program in Kalimantan focuses on activities in and around Tanjung Puting National Park. The work there mainly revolves around the problems of the natural environment and work on the ground, including reforestation, environmental education, agroforestry and organic farming.
The partner organization is pursuing a unique strategy in Tanjung Puting. Instead of concentrating efforts solely on the national park, the focus is on developing the surrounding villages. The hope is to offer environmentally friendly, economic alternatives to the palm oil industry. To achieve this, the local population is offered jobs in forestry and land restoration. This strategy has already proved successful and former forest destroyers have now become forest protectors. All employees are locals, and additional seasonal workers from the surrounding villages are hired to help with large reforestation projects. The seedlings for these projects all come from a farmers' cooperative made up exclusively of local employees. Through its programmes, the partner organization has managed to ensure that many of the former employees who have improved their qualifications through participation are now working as tour guides, boat captains or in other positions in ecotourism. Professions that protect the environment instead of profiting from its destruction in the short term.
As part of the project strategy to develop local villages and thus preserve the forests, the organization is also focusing on educating the youngest members of the community about the importance of nature conservation and the environment. The aim is for these efforts to produce an environmentally aware generation that will continue to work to protect the forests in the future.
The second project site, Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve, is protected as it provides a habitat for a wide variety of interesting species, including orangutans. Much of the area has been cleared by fire for years due to agriculture and deer hunting. The camp is remote, far away from any village, so there is little contact with the local population. The focus there is on forest regeneration through tree planting as well as monitoring and protection from forest fires.
In the Rainforest Conservation Program, you can expect varied and exciting tasks. The volunteer activities can change according to need, but also depending on the weather and other factors. Most of the projects take place in and around the national park. During the week from Monday to Friday, your working day will consist of a wide variety of activities. You will assist with wildlife monitoring, in the forest nursery, collect seeds and seedlings from the nearby forest, care for seedlings, plant trees and supervise replanting. In the organic garden, you will help with soil preparation, composting and irrigation. You will also collect food for your own animals and feed them. English lessons are another part of your project work. You will teach the employees themselves, the locals and, once a week, pupils in the nearby village. You have free time at the weekends, which you can use for yourself and to organize activities. However, you are also invited to spend this time with the employees for joint activities.
There are also camps for work assignments in the national park. All activities are centered around reforestation, conservation education for the communities and biodiversity education for children. Volunteers sometimes have the opportunity to help with planting and community activities in these areas.
The working days are usually from Monday to Friday. Due to the heat and humidity, outdoor activities usually start at 7 a.m., after breakfast. An attempt is made to make the working day flexible depending on the weather. Activities are concentrated from 7 am to 10:30 am and then from 2:30 pm to 5 pm. There is a break in between and lunch is eaten together. However, there are also some activities that have to be done during the day.
The project is located in the Indonesian part of Borneo, in Kalimantan, surrounded by lush tropical rainforest. The main volunteer center is located opposite the Tanjung Puting National Park, on the banks of the Sekonyer River and is the main location for accommodation and volunteer activities. The project site is about 100 hectares in size and is located between the national park and a palm oil plantation, one and a half hours by boat upriver from the port city of Kumai or 30 minutes by car from Pangkalan Bun airport. A second project site is located in the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve, about a four-hour drive from the airport.
Kalimantan has a tropical equatorial climate. It is hot and humid. From November to May is the rainy season, when it rains often and heavily. From June to October is the dry season and it gets very warm and humid.
In your free time at the project location, you have the opportunity to learn how to make traditional bracelets, mats or carvings, for example. You can learn traditional cooking, go bird watching, fishing or canoeing. You can also visit the village of Sekonyer and give English lessons there at the same time. If you feel like it, you can also use your free time to simply relax. The partner organization also offers a one-day tour to the national park and the orangutans at an additional cost. The trip visits two sites and you will be provided with lunch during the tour.
In the surrounding area, you can visit the towns of Kumai and Pangkalan Bun. Here you will find restaurants, stores, ATMs and a hospital. You can also visit the Rainbow Village in Pangkalan Bun, for example. A small area in the center with colorful sidewalks, streets and houses very close to the river. Or you can take a look at Istana Kuning. A small palace on a hill in Pangkalan Bun that was built in 1806. Kuning means yellow, as the building was traditionally covered with yellow cloth. In Kumai, you can visit the traditional food market. There you can buy fruit, vegetables, fish and meat. The market is located by the river and offers interesting insights into daily life in Kumai. Or you can relax in one of the cafés in Kumai - with a view of the river. In addition to coffee, you can also get fresh juices and food there. There is also a mall in Pangkalan Bun with a supermarket, a pharmacy and small stores, including western goods. If you would like to exercise, there is a jogging track near the airport in Pangkalan Bun. The track is surrounded by forest and is good for a bit of exercise.
Arrival:
There are direct flights from Jakarta, Semarang and Surabaya to Pangkalan Bun, the nearest major city to the project site. There are also ferries from Semarang and Surabaya to the nearby port of Kumai.
Travel to and from the airport in Pangkalan Bun is usually by rental car or cab. The staff will pick you up from the airport and bring you back there on your departure.
You do not need any special skills or prerequisites to participate in the program. What you should have is a keen interest in nature conservation and working with local communities. Accordingly, you should be respectful of the natural environment in which you will be working. You should be equally respectful of your fellow volunteers, the staff and the local population. You should also be able to cope well with the usual early start times due to heat and humidity. You should also have a certain amount of flexibility, as times and tasks can change from time to time. You should also be patient when it comes to communicating with employees. Some employees are still learning English. Therefore, you sometimes have to speak a little slower or repeat a question or statement. Be open and curious, ask questions if you have not understood something or want to know more. The employees will be happy to help you. With a positive attitude, you will have a wonderful time here.
You should have a good command of English, as you will also be teaching English to the employees, locals and children in the communities. Accordingly, you should be able to communicate well and express yourself confidently. It will also help you to communicate with your fellow volunteers and have a good time overall.
The accommodation and facilities on the project site are very basic. You must be prepared to share your accommodation, meals, work equipment and personal space with other volunteers and local staff. There are 2 dormitories on the site. Each dormitory normally sleeps 6 people. However, they can be extended to accommodate up to 10 people if required. This means that 12 to 20 people can be accommodated in both dormitories at the same time. There are 2 toilets and 1 (cold water) shower in each dormitory. There are also 4 twin rooms. These can also be extended if necessary, so that each room can accommodate 3 people. The accommodation can therefore accommodate 8 or up to 12 people. There are 2 toilets and 2 showers available for these rooms. Each bed is equipped with a mattress, bed linen, pillow, blanket and a mosquito net.
The project site uses solar energy to generate electricity. This allows electrical devices, such as smartphones, to be charged. There is a kitchen and drinking water. As the location is quite remote, there is no Wi-Fi or telephone network. This is a great opportunity to take in the beauty of the place, get to know the staff and really immerse yourself in volunteering. However, W-LAN can be used in the main office in Kumai.
There are no laundry facilities on the site itself. However, there is a laundry service. The price is around 30 cents per kilo of laundry. If you ever need laundry, simply speak to the staff to arrange delivery and collection.
During your stay, you will get something to eat three times a day. The dishes are typically Indonesian, such as nasi goreng: an Indonesian fried rice dish, usually with vegetables, sausage, chicken and egg. Mie Goreng: an Indonesian noodle dish with fried noodles, mustard leaves, egg and cabbage. Bakso: an Indonesian meatball broth with noodles, meatballs and mustard leaves. Gado-gado: an Indonesian salad made from bean sprouts, vegetables, tofu, egg, crackers and peanut sauce. Martabak manis: a deep-fried crumpet-style dessert, usually with a rich chocolate coating. If you have any special dietary requirements, you can let the staff know and they will be happy to accommodate them.
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