Economics of Orangutans

To be effective, forest conservation must be balanced with the economic well-being of local communities. This project achieves that balance by demonstrating that conservation can be environmentally and economically advantageous.

It engages communities and supports the local economy by creating jobs, offering alternative income streams, providing new co-ops, and micro-finance programs. The project also provides access to clean water, health services and education. Local communities have become motivated partners in forest preservation. This project is avoiding 4.5 million tonnes of carbon equivalent emissions every year, and is the largest REDD+ forestry project in the world in terms of emissions reduced. It is also Indonesia’s first officially sanctioned REDD+ project.