interesting facts about orangutan

Mawas is a forest conservation, reforestation and research area in Kalteng, Central Kalimantan. The Mawas project is now in its development phase.[21]

The main aim of the Mawas project is to protect some of the fast-disappearing peat lands through collaboration with the Central and Local Governments and the local communities. The Mawas area is home to one of the last tracts of forest supporting wild orangutans. An estimated 3,000 wild orangutans are found in this area. Mawas is also important for its biodiversity and the geological conditions of Mawas make it a storage house of giga-tonnes of sequestered carbon. Over a period of 8,000 years, decaying plant matter from the swamp forests has built up 13 - 15 metre high domes of peat.

In September 2003, the provincial parliament in Central Kalimantan approved a new land use plan that designates 500,000 ha in the Mawas area to be managed by BOS for conservation. BOS is currently working in an area of about 280,000 ha within the ex-Mega Rice Project.

BOS has initiated a forest conservation project with the objectives of:

* conserving peat swamp forest area including reforesting degraded areas;
* preserving the bio-diversity of the area;
* providing global greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits;
* providing access to programs such as health and education; and
* improving incomes and building capacity and economic prosperity in local communities
* assisting communities in learning technical skills including aquaculture, rice cultivation, agro-forestry and farm development
* assisting local independence and self-sustaining livelihoods.
* providing education to children on the environment and conservation, by visiting schools
* providing community awareness programs as well as co-operative conservation programs.

The area is important for research activities, with BOS operating the Tuanan Research Station in Kapaus. The Station has been implemented through extensive consultation with all local people and institutions and the use of local labour. Its purpose is to provide a year-round base to scientists tracking and observing the wild orangutan population. BOS is involved in patrolling and monitoring the area for illegal activities via air and land and supporting law enforcement by providing guidance and legal awareness programs to the community and government