Kehatiku Program

Project Activities and Results Need to be revise by Wano, Emily and Bazillah about this section, and what they want to say about Kehatiku

• Activity 1: Orangutan Population Interviews Using PLEO Methods (June 2024)

  To determine the historic population trend in orangutans in the villages and inform the counterfactual against which we measure the impact of our interventions, we conducted interviews, using Pooled Local Expert Opinion (PLEO) methods, with 92 individuals aged 20 to 71+ years old (van der Hoeven et al., 2004). The estimated orangutan population is described, showing a high of 750 orangutans in Menua Sadap and a low of 26 orangutans in Nanga Palin.

  

• Activity 2: Collate Species Monitoring Data (May 2024 - Present)

  Species monitoring data are collected using the Survey123 smartphone app and Field Maps on tablets, with customized questionnaires developed by Borneo Futures. These tools enable community members to document wildlife sightings and other locally significant features. By generating geolocated observations, this approach helps us understand patterns in wildlife presence and behavior, as well as how communities engage with and report their findings.

  

• Activity 3: Scaling of Survey123 for all Four Villages (Sept 2024 - Present)

  Scaling the use of the Survey123 application across four villages aimed to support the development of community-led biodiversity and natural resource monitoring syste (e.g., honey bee nests), increase village-wide awareness of local biodiversity values, and establish a foundation for village-specific wildlife conservation and protection plans.

  

• Activity 4: Orangutan Guardians WhatsApp Group chat (Sept 2024 - Present)

  Wildlife observations are effectively communicated through a dedicated WhatsApp group. This group comprises a small team of Borneo Futures technical and biodiversity staff, and local collectors from the village. This platform is a valuable communication tool, facilitating discussions among Orangutan Guardians. It enables them to share ideas, seek advice on wildlife sightings and any technical issues, and connect with external advisors to enhance their knowledge and understanding of local biodiversity.

  

• Activity 5: Site visit for one Borneo Futures staff member (Aug 2024 - Sept 2024)

  One Borneo Futures staff member (Wano) conducted site visits to three villages in Kapuas Hulu: Menua Sadap, Mensiau, and Sungai Ajung (Figure 6). These villages are located close to one another and easily accessible via the main road. A visit to Nanga Palin was not feasible due to limited accessibility and time constraints during Wano's visit.

  
  

  The site visit involved Wano visiting all four villages to deliver tablets and maps. On-site training was provided on the Field Maps app for tablets, along with a refresher course on using the Survey123 application. During these visits, Wano inspected previous investment areas, including chicken coops, fish ponds, and lemongrass farms.

  

• Activity 6: Orangutan and Orangutan Nest Survey (October 2024)

  In October 2024, a survey was conducted across all four villages to gather data on orangutan sightings and nest locations. Local data collectors, accompanied by other community members, entered the forest to identify and record these observations using the Survey123 application. This activity also served as a hands-on training opportunity, helping more community members learn how to use their smartphones for documenting wildlife.