Equipping Local Communities to Protect Kalimantan’s Forests

When it comes to protecting the peatland forest in YUM’s working area of Bukit Batu, Central Kalimantan, technology is only half the story. The other half is the people on the ground—our dedicated YUM field staff and the local Dayak community members who know these woods best.

Earlier this year, Dr. Sara Ramirez, a specialist in landscape management in tropical regions with more than 15 years of experience in participatory forest management, joined our team for 12 days of training in the forest. She focused on giving our local staff the right tools, tech, and confidence to lead the research on creating a sustainable forest management guideline together with the Dayak community.

Here is a look at what we learned and accomplished together:

Blending Satellite Tech with Local Knowledge

Protecting a forest starts with knowing every corner of it. Dr. Ramirez walked our team through digital mapping tools, showing us how to track real-time forest cover and detect early warning signs of disturbance.  But tech alone isn't enough. We also sat down with the Dayak community elders. By pairing satellite maps with their generations of local forest wisdom, our mapping became far more accurate—helping us identify local native trees, key wildlife paths, and historical land uses.

Getting Our Boots Muddy

Learning didn't stay in the classroom. The team headed straight into the peatland forest to put theory into practice:

• Setting up camera traps in high-activity areas to monitor elusive wildlife.
• Conducting transect walks through deep, soft peat soil to record native flora and track animal signs—from wild boar tracks to orangutan nests.
• Testing digital mapping tools under actual forest conditions.

Why This Matters for Our Community

Real conservation doesn't happen through one-off visits; it happens when local communities have the ownership and expertise to guard their own natural environment. Thanks to Dr. Ramirez’s mentorship, our field team is better equipped than ever to help the Dayak community safeguard Kalimantan’s peatland forests for generations to come.