The Kalaweit-Age of Union Dulan Forest

The Kalaweit-Age of Union Dulan Forest spanning 5,000 acres fosters an extreme diversity making it an ideal environment for a plethora of species, including Bornean orangutans, white-bearded gibbons, langurs, Malaysian sun bears, clouded leopards, proboscis monkeys, pigtail and crab-eating macaques, sambar deer, muntjacs, and more.

The local village of Butong, home to the indigenous Dayak community, relies on the forest and its lake for survival, such as fishing or fruit gahering. This community is actively engaged in protecting the forest as well, implementing Kalaweit’s conservation model to expand the reserve further.

The forest is threatened by monocultures of palm oil plantations and mining extractions around the reserve, causing massive deforestation and threats to biodiversity. The Kalaweit-Age of Union Dulan Forest serves as a vital refuge for animals, particularly over a hundred orangutans escaping deforestation. In addition to the intrinsic value of securing the Dulan Forest’s endangered ecosystems and wildlife, protecting the reserve locks down critical carbon stocks in the global fight against climate change.

The conservation work was initiated in close partnership with local communities, landowners, and provincial and central governments to create protected areas for wildlife. Kalaweit ensures that local populations have access to the land to carry out traditional activities, with the belief that a healthy forest is a forest with thriving wildlife and where people live in harmony.

Thanks to this incredible initiative made possible by these various partnerships, the Kalaweit-age of Union Forest Reserve now spans over 5,000 acres of fully protected.

Mission

The project aims to secure healthy habitats to protect animals while they are still in the forest through various strategies such as:

• Expand the ranger program to protect recently secured areas
• Build up water units to fight forest fires, especially during the year of El Niño 
• Acquire an ultralight seaplane to engage in aerial monitoring
• Support a reforestation program done via aerial seeding
• Collaborate with local villages to protect the forest

Timeline

In the summer of 2021, Age of Union partnered with Kalaweit, committing to provide more US $1 million over four years.

• September 2021: Protection of 250 acres, sealing the first step of the partnership
• 2022: 3,700 acres are now secured and actively protected and Kalaweit receives the ultralight Age of Union plane to implement aerial patrols
• 2023: 1,300 acres are added to the reserve by the Dayaks living in the Butong village
• April 2024: Dax Dasilva visits the Kalaweit-Age of Union Dulan Forest for the first time
• Summer 2024: the two organization’s leaders, chanee and Dax Dasilva, commit to protecting the reserve’s critical carbon stocks in the global fight against climate change in the south, and expand it to 1700 acres.

Iconic Species: Bornean Orangutan

The decline of Bornean Orangutan populations is primarily attributed to habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation, with numbers decreasing by over 82% in the past 75 years. Recognized for their exceptional intelligence showcased through complex problem-solving, tool usage, and intricate social behaviors, Orangutans serve as a vital umbrella species endemic to the Indonesian Islands.

Understanding their critical role, conservation efforts aim to safeguard their habitats, particularly against threats like the palm oil industry, thereby indirectly protecting the broader ecosystem and ensuring the thriving of associated species within the region.

Project Visits

We place a high value on firsthand knowledge and maintaining direct contact with our partners. This is why we prioritize taking the time to personally engage with our projects and witness their initiatives.