Engage and Work Alongside Local Communities
We collaborate with Yayasan Hamparan Eco Semesta ("HES Foundation"), the Indonesian not-for-profit organization focused on rainforest conservation and related activities to run the ZCFM community development programs.
Focus Activities
Restoration & Prevention
The Foundation has a policy that is community and stakeholder based which has an important role in restoring ecosystem initiatives toward sustainable development. The bottom-up approach emphasizes the participation of the local community in the development program from planning, implementation, as well as monitoring and evaluation, including the restoration and community fire prevention and control program. The forest restoration program can further drive more economic development and job opportunities especially in rural communities. An appropriate employment policy to provide opportunities to the local population to develop a sense of ownership in the project will be a priority.
Livelihood
The Foundation community training policy related to their livelihood and community development projects will assist the community to maintain and develop sustainable small business startups to non-timber forest product, e.g., medicinal plant project, forest honey, rattan, palm sugar, bamboo etc.
The program will be designed from upstream to downstream. In addition, marketing systems of the craft, medicinal and herbal, or other product will be studied using exploratory and qualitative research methods. Intervention initiatives will be required to enhance the returns to the farmers and community which will contribute to the sustainable management of forest resources.
Eco tourism and cultural activities involving community is another project to be conducted in the near future.
Health Program
Climate change is impacting health and access to health care is still an issue in remote areas of Indonesia.
The health program will take into account the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, including women, children, poor communities, and the older population. Medicinal plant and herbal projects will be an important initiative for the community contribution to the health care services. The Foundation will work together with local government health services.
Education
Education and outreach are important to address climate change, empower all people as well as motivate the young people to take participative actions. Emphasis must be on educational programs, including internet connectivity access for all school children, linking schools across the world to enhance teaching and learning. A scholarship program in surrounding villages will be introduced to support tertiary education.
Sustainable Development Goals
We actively promote ESG (Environmental Social and Governance) within the United Nations framework of 17 SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) 2015, as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.