Kayan Mentarang

WWF-Indonesia has been working in Kayan Mentarang since the 1990s. In the beginning of the project, activities conducted were more focused toward identifications such as scientific research - from themes connected to natural biodiversity, conservation management efforts, to socio-cultural and community. Results from various participatory researches conducted implied WWF-Indonesia to facilitate several parties in facing practical challenges received by community based conservation management. The results were compiled and booked into a long term management plan for Kayan Mentarang National Park (25 year), which was later formalized by a Ministrial Decree: SK Menteri Kehutanan no.1213/Kpts-II/2002.

Kayan Mentarang National Park (KMNP) is located along the border of East Kalimantan and Sabah and Sarawak, Malaysia, with a total area of 1,35 million hectares. For hundreds of years, it has been inhibited by the Dayaks with a wide variety of ethnolinguistic groups. KMNP is also one of the world's centre for natural biodiversity. Various vegetations can be found - lowland forests, highland forests, savanna - in a complex habitat. At least 150 mammals are found in this area, along with more than 300 bird species and various reptiles, amphibians and insects.

WWF-Indonesia's vision in the KMNP is to help facilitate the creation of a collaborative and effective management while emphasizing the integrity of natural biodiversity and environmental functions to support sustainable development that benefits local community and government.

WWF-Indonesia has several partners that support the activities in KMNP, among others Ford Foundation, Total Foundation, WWF Germany, DANIDA, ITTO and DFID.

The target of WWF-Indonesia's activities in KMNP is categorized into two phases:

1. Management Plan Phase: started in 1996 with the change of Kayan Mentarang's status from Nature Reserve into a National Park. The follow-up was the compilation of a long term Management Plan of KMNP (RPTNKM) for a 25 year period, which was formalized by the Ministrial Decree: SK Menteri Kehutanan no.1213/kpts-II/2002. Furthermore this was strengthened by another decree, SK Menteri Kehutanan no.1214/kpts-II/2002 on the implementation of collaborative management, in order to ensure the participation of community in managing the NP.
2. Management Plan Implementation Phase: during the 4 year period, several targets that have managed to be achieved are: a) institutional development along with supporting facilities in KMNP's management b) the increase in social-economic benefits for local communities surrounding KMNP c) research and development d) education and awareness e) security, monitoring and evaluation of the area.

Until 2006, WWF-Indonesia is supported by DANIDA, GTZ and WWF Germany to achieve these targets:

• facilitating the institutionalization of a collaborative management body for KMNP
• facilitating the determination of KMNP's borders
• facilitating in increasing the social-economic benefits for local communities surrounding KMNP

through management effectiveness, good governance and sustainable development.