Expanding restoration efforts in Hutan Harapan, Indonesia (Phase II)

Expanding restoration efforts for Dipterocarps and other threatened native tree species in Hutan Harapan in Indonesia (Phase II)

Partner: Restoration Ecosystem Indonesia (REKI)
Years: 2024-2027

This project continues and expands the ongoing forest restoration efforts funded by Fondation Franklinia since 2021 in Hutan Harapan (Indonesia’s first Ecosystem Restoration Concession), located in southeastern Sumatra, Indonesia. Within the next decade, REKI aims to transform a former logging concession into healthy regenerating lowland rainforest.

Hutan Harapan, which means “Forest of Hope” in Indonesian, is a 98,000 ha forest area and a well-known Ecosystem Restoration Concession. It represents more than 20% of Sumatra’s decreasing tropical lowland forest and provides habitat for a wide range of threatened fauna (including Sumatran tiger, Sumatran elephant, Sun bear and Malay tapir) and flora.
The Harapan Project Team is committed to halting the decline of tree populations and combatting threats such as illegal logging, encroachment, and forest fires. This is achieved through vigilant monitoring, protection of key areas, and restoration of damaged sites using seed and seedling propagation of Dipterocarp and non-Dipterocarp species.
Propagation methods include selectively and sustainably taking some seedlings around mother trees and propagating and planting them, leaving others in place to grow naturally; and propagation of Dipterocarps and non-Dipterocarps using seeds sourced in and around Harapan. Building on previous efforts, this project scales up restoration by increasing the restored area of post-fire lands and regions dominated by invasive species.