In 2015, OWT involved in a project called “Build Community-Based Ecosystem Restoration Capacity in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP)”. This project located in Pedamaran Area, Way Nipah Resort, Register 22B -Kubu Nicik, Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.
Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (BBSNP) with a total area of 356,800 ha is the third largest conservation area in Sumatra. Since 2004, BBSNP along with Gunung Leuser and Kerinci Seblat National Park were designated by UNESCO as the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (TRHS) covers a total area of 2,595,124 ha, constituting one of the biggest conservation areas in Southeast Asia (WHP, 2014).
Operasi Wallacea Terpadu Foundation (OWT) is Bogor based national NGO, in the first project was selected by UNESCO, cooperated with BBSNP has facilitated project of community-based ecosystem restoration at Pedamaran area of BBSNP during March 2014-May 2015. Continuing this project, since April – July 2015, OWT Foundation with funding from WWF’s Education for Natura Program (EFN) conducted facilitation to build community-based ecosystem restoration capacity in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.
The projects was implemented through four phases: (1) Diagnostic study, the aim of this stage is to identify the site condition of planned restoration area. The activities of this stages are: data collection of biophysical and social economy, survey on awareness status, establishment of vegetation plot, mapping, and developing Ecosystem Restoration Technical Design; (2) Capacity building, the aim of this stages is to enhance capacity of local community and BBSNP staff on ecosystem restoration. The activities of this stage are: developing and disseminate of training and awareness materials, establishment of restoration farmer group, training delivery on ecosystem restoration for local community and BBSNP staff, and awareness campaign; (3) Collaborative management, the aim of this stage is to build collaborative management on implementation of ecosystem restoration in BBSNP. The activities of this stage are: nursery establishment, genetic materials collection, seedlings production, plantation, establishment of Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) permanent plot to monitor status, change, and trend of restoration area, plant maintenance, and community-based security and protection of restoration area; and (4) Exit strategy, the aim of this stage is to end project facilitation and to ensure that the entire initiation and facilitation of project undertaken, could be replicated by both stakeholders and local community. The activities of this stage are: Promotion of BBSNP Ecosystem Restoration Best Practices, Making film on BBSNP Ecosystem Restoration Best Practices, developing database on ecosystem restoration.
Ecosystem restoration in Pedamaran in the first project that funded by UNESCO has been successful to restore 112 ha area with plants survival ± 97% and has planted 62,500 seedlings of 36 endemic tree species of BBSNP and in the second project that funded by WWF’s EFN Program has restored 10 ha area with 6,250 seedlings of 16 species with plant survival of ± 87%. Some of species have been planted were as Sumatran rhino ((Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) feed such as Alstonia scholaris, Vitex pubescens, and Pterospermum javanicum.
| No | Local Name | Scientific Name | Number of seedlings |
| 1 | Medang Daun Kuning | Litsea odorivera valet | 200 |
| 2 | Medang Daun Bulat | Litsea firma hook | 700 |
| 3 | Medang Pucuk Merah | Litsea diversifolia blume | 600 |
| 4 | Krewing | Dipterocarpus spp | 500 |
| 5 | Meranti | Shorea leprosula | 500 |
| 6 | Pasang Kapas | Quercus spp. | 400 |
| 7 | Da o | Dracontomelon dao | 600 |
| 8 | Pulai | Alstonia scholaris | 50 |
| 9 | Salam | Eugenia Polyantha | 500 |
| 10 | Mangir | Ganophyllum falcatum | 250 |
| 11 | Gelam | Castanopsis | 300 |
| 12 | Krawu | Sandoricum koetjape | 500 |
| 13 | Laban | Vitex pinnata | 400 |
| 14 | Mangir | Ganophyllum falcatum | 300 |
| 15 | Gelam | Castanopsis | 200 |
| 16 | Bayur Daun Kecil | Pterospermum javanicum | 250 |
| Total | 6,250 |
The project has success to train local partner through informal and formal training. The training was participated by 45 persons, consisted of : 3 persons of BBS NP staff, BBS NP community partner (1 person), farmer group/local community (39 persons), and OWT local partner (2 persons).
Duration of project : February 28, 2015 – July 15, 2015