Sustainable natural resources restoration through civil society strengthening in North Sumatra

The project focuses on conservation issues around Batang Gadis National Park in Mandailing Natal District, North Sumatra. The main threats are planting of cinnamon inside the national park by the community, expansion of oil palm plantations, illegal logging and most pressing, the issuing of mining concessions. The community issue is addressed through community organising and training in 6 villages bordering the park, and promoting more sustainable farming outside the national park. In the project period it is aimed to get as far as demonstration plots which are adopted by 500 families. The mining issue will be approached through lobby and a special committee will be formed, which will make recommendations to the district head. The project will help drafting 6 village regulations that will control access to and use of natural resources in the park and prevention form overexploitation, covering a total of approx. 3753 ha of land.