Community Environmental Education is a key to rainforest and orangutan conservation: Lessons from Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

Community environmental education (CEE) has the potential to act as a critical component to solve environmental problems and achieve goals for rainforest and orangutan (Pongo abelii and P. pygmaues) conservation in Indonesia. CEE projects combined with community empowerment strategies can be put forward as front line intervention actions to achieve the goals of biodiversity conservation in Indonesia through improving the ability of communities to conduct sustainable and equitable management of their natural resources, based on local knowledge, need, and priorities. The results of the Orangutan Information Centre`s programme the Aceh Community Conservation Initiative as well as the RARE Pride Campaign Programme indicate that working through a framework of community environmental education can provide benchmarks for action in the conservation of orangutan and rainforests and assist communities in reaching environmental solutions to local issues, promote voluntary participation, and provide local people with the skills and knowledge required to become environmentally active and effect real conservation on the ground.