At the beginning of each year, PT. Restorasi Habitat Orangutan Indonesia (PT. RHOI) conducts its Annual Work Plan Socialization as part of its responsibility as a holder of the Ecosystem Restoration Forest Utilization Permit (PBPH-RE). This activity serves as a platform to share information about forest management plans and community development programs that will be implemented throughout the year with partner villages and relevant stakeholders.

As the manager of the Kehje Sewen ecosystem restoration forest area in East Kalimantan, PT. RHOI is responsible not only for forest management and biodiversity protection, but also for social management and maintaining good relationships with communities living around the forest area. Therefore, the Annual Work Plan socialization is an important moment to ensure that forest management plans align with community needs and aspirations.

Strong Participation from Communities and Local Partners

Although the event was held during the month of Ramadan, the 2026 Annual Work Plan Socialization was attended by almost all invited participants. The attendees included village representatives from various village institutions, partner companies, and representatives from local government service agencies in Muara Wahau Subdistrict.

This year’s event also welcomed several new faces, including newly appointed heads of Village-Owned Enterprises (BUM Desa) and newly established village cooperative leaders from partner villages. At the same time, many participants had attended this event several times before, as they have been long-time partners and friends of PT. RHOI in implementing social management programs in the surrounding villages.

The diverse participation highlights that ecosystem restoration forest management cannot be carried out alone. It requires continuous collaboration and communication with many stakeholders, especially communities who live side by side with the forest.

Forest Management and Community Development Programs

The socialization event began with an opening session and welcoming remarks, followed by presentations of the Annual Work Plan and a discussion session. During the presentations, the Camp Coordinator explained various forest and environmental management activities carried out within the PT. RHOI concession area, while the Community Development Coordinator presented community empowerment programs planned for the three partner villages.

These two aspects are closely interconnected. Ecosystem restoration is not only about planting trees or protecting wildlife, but also about building strong relationships with communities and supporting the improvement of community capacity and livelihoods in villages surrounding the forest area.

Open Discussions: Orangutans, Villages, and Community Expectations

During the discussion and question-and-answer session, community members shared various questions, feedback, and suggestions. The topics discussed ranged from orangutan rescue activities to PT. RHOI’s contributions to village programs.

The Camp Coordinator explained that environmental management activities are not limited to orangutan monitoring within the concession area, but also include habitat protection, forest patrols, and human-wildlife conflict mitigation, including situations when orangutans are occasionally seen in community farms near the villages.

Meanwhile, the Head of PT. RHOI East Kalimantan Branch emphasized that Community Development programs are not simply corporate social responsibility activities or short-term assistance programs. Instead, they are community empowerment initiatives aimed at strengthening community capacity, independence, and long-term welfare, so that communities can grow alongside the ecosystem restoration forest.

Toward Forest Restoration and a Shared Future

The enthusiasm of participants who stayed engaged until the end of the event became a source of motivation for the PT. RHOI team. This socialization was not only about presenting work plans, but also about building communication, trust, and long-term collaboration between the company and local communities.

Ultimately, all RHOI activities, both forest management and community development programs lead back to the main mandate of restoring orangutan habitat. Protecting orangutans and their habitat means protecting the forest. Also, protecting forests is not only important for wildlife, but also for human life, now and in the future.

Working in conservation means being part of a larger effort to protect nature. Through collaboration between forest managers, communities, and various stakeholders, it is hoped that the Kehje Sewen forest will continue to be a safe home for orangutans while also providing sustainable benefits for the communities living around it.

Text by: Community Development Team at Muara Wahau, East Kalimantan