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September 2010

Harapan Rainforest through the lens

A film crew recently visited Harapan Rainforest to make a film. I was lucky to join them to learn about making the exciting conservation films we see on television or the internet.
We spent the first few days with the Bathin Sembilan indigenous community; filming their daily lives and seeing how important the forest is for them. They enjoyed the chance to showcase their traditional livelihood!

Communicating Harapan Rainforest's research results

I have just returned from the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation conference on Tropical Biodiversity, held in Bali. There was a good turn out with over 800 participants from more than 60 countries and it was a great opportunity for us to learn about other research activities and projects taking place across Asia. It was exciting for me to see so many Indonesian students attending the conference and it may be that some of them join us at Harapan Rainforest to conduct their own research in the future.

Local schools visit Harapan Rainforest

The normally quiet Harapan Rainforest recently became a hive of activity when over 400 school children arrived in camp to assist in a day of tree planting. They came from eight different schools in the local area and also included the indigenous children who are taught through our mobile schools. The idea behind the project is to create a green community with a better understanding of the environment and the importance of protecting the rainforest.

Recognition for Harapan Rainforest mobile school

It was a very proud day for me recently as I presented the indigenous Bathin Sembilan children who attend our mobile school with uniforms. The school has been running for nearly a year and was set up to give the indigenous children in and around Harapan Rainforest the opportunity to get an education; which otherwise they would not get.

Research shows a healthy sun bear population in Harapan Rainforest

We have just completed our first Malayan Sun Bear research project, funded by the International Bear Association. The sun bear is the smallest bear in the world and one of the globally threatened mammals found in Harapan Rainforest. It gets its name from the golden disc of fur on its chest. Its name in Indonesia is beruang, meaning "having money", comparing the disc to a golden coin. This has been an exciting project, with the automatic cameras, triggered when an animal walks in front, taking over 300 photos of bears.