Female Forest Rangers in Indonesia Fight Deforestation

A group of female forest rangers in Indonesia is breaking traditional rules to lead patrols in the jungle to fight deforestation. In a lush jungle in Indonesia's Aceh province, the forest rangers, led by women, are working hard to protect their village's forest from deforestation and poaching. Their efforts have led to a significant decrease in deforestation, and now they are sharing their strategies with other women-led groups in Indonesia. Many villagers in Damaran Baru depend on the forest for their livelihoods. Sumini noticed illegal tree cutting in the village's watershed and decided to take action. She worked with the Forest, Nature and Environment Aceh Foundation to officially register the patrol group with a social forestry permit. This permit allows local communities to manage their forests with government support. The rangers engage with people in the forest, reminding them of the forest's importance and giving them seeds to plant. This approach has led to positive changes, with one man stopping poaching and joining his wife on forest patrols. The women rangers have met with women from other provinces in Indonesia affected by deforestation. They share information on leading forestry programs, teach wilderness mapping, proposal drafting, permit application, and how to demand enforcement against illegal activities. Involving women in forest management is crucial for the success of social forestry programs, according to Rahpriyanto Alam Surya Putra from The Asia Foundation. The women rangers of Damaran Baru are motivated by the positive impact they have had and aim to continue their work for future generations.