PLANTING A NEW HOME FOR ORANGUTANS
Restoration initiatives are crucial for preparing the Kehje Sewen Forest as a future release area for rehabilitated orangutans from our Samboja Lestari Rehabilitation Centre in East Kalimantan. By maintaining the habitat and ensuring an ample supply of natural food sources, we aim to create a safe environment for orangutans, allowing them to live, thrive, and continue their natural life cycles.
A lengthy, interwoven process
Ecosystem restoration in the Kehje Sewen Forest is a long and interconnected process. One of its key components is habitat management and enhancement, carried out by our Habitat Management and Enhancement Team (RE-PPH) under the Indonesian Orangutan Habitat Restoration Program (PT. RHOI).
Previously, the RE-PPH team conducted replanting activities in several open areas using seedlings propagated and nurtured at the nursery within the monitoring camp area. However, before these seedlings could be grown and replanted in the forest, there was a crucial stage that often goes unnoticed: identifying mother trees as seed sources.
A Team member measures the height and diameter of a mother tree.
Exploring the Forest in Search of Life’s Sources
To find suitable mother trees, the RE-PPH team ventured into the Kehje Sewen Forest equipped with survey tools. Their mission went beyond routine patrols or monitoring—they sought out healthy, mature, high-quality trees that would later serve as reliable seed sources for forest restoration efforts.
Along the forest trails, our team carefully examined each tree. The selected mother trees had to meet specific criteria: they had to have straight trunks, dense canopies, be free of disease, and have a proven record of producing fruits favoured by orangutans, such as those from the genera Ficus, Artocarpus, and other important food trees. This activity also marked an initial step in enriching forest vegetation and securing natural food sources for orangutans.
Documenting Mother Trees as a Foundation
Once the team identified a suitable tree, they paused to record detailed data. They measured tree height and diameter, noted overall health conditions, and recorded GPS coordinates to ensure the trees could be located again in the future. This data provides a vital foundation for planned, sustainable seed collection, carried out without disrupting the surrounding ecosystem.
Seedlings propagated from the seeds of a mother tree are cared for at the nursery.
The work was not without challenges. Steep terrain, thorny undergrowth, and dense forest conditions tested the team’s endurance. Yet, every successfully identified mother tree brought renewed motivation, as these trees will play a crucial role in providing food and habitat not only for orangutans but also for other wildlife and biodiversity in the future.
From the Nursery Back to the Forest
Seeds collected from these mother trees are then propagated and cared for at the nursery. Once the seedlings are strong enough, they are replanted in forest areas requiring vegetation enrichment, continuing the previously carried out reforestation efforts. In this way, restoration unfolds as a complete cycle: from the forest, nurtured in the nursery, and returned to the forest.
Each documented mother tree represents a long-term investment in ecosystem sustainability. This approach ensures that the trees planted are native species, well-suited to local habitat conditions and the needs of biodiversity—especially orangutans.
Preparing a Natural Habitat for Orangutans
Through this series of activities, the RE-PPH team under the RHOI program aims to restore the Kehje Sewen Forest not merely as a green landscape, but as a natural habitat capable of sustainably supporting orangutan life. This effort aligns closely with the BOS Foundation’s reintroduction program, which aims to provide suitable release sites for rehabilitated orangutans from the Samboja Lestari Rehabilitation Centre.
