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ConservationOrangutan Foundation International (OFI) is proud to officially announce its partnership with The Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve, an InfiniteEARTH project.
The Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve aims to reduce Indonesia’s greenhouse gas emissions and protect the endangered Borneo orangutan by preserving 64,977 hectares of tropical peat swamp forest. This is the world’s largest initiative to protect and preserve High Conservation Value (HCV), lowland peat swamp forests – one of the most highly endangered ecosystems in the world. The Rimba Raya area forms a critical buffer zone to Tanjung Puting National Park in the Seruyan River watershed. The area is rich in biodiversity, including several flagship species such as the endangered Bornean orangutan, clouded leopard, gibbon, probiscis monkey, and Malayan sun bear.
OFI and Rimba Raya have enjoyed a close relationship for many years. The Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve area was initially brought to the attention of Todd Lemons, the founder of Rimba Raya by Dr. Galdikas in 2007. Dr. Galdikas and InfiniteEARTH worked closely together through the process of gaining the concession rights to and accreditation for The Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve, which were fully achieved in 2013.
The Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve is a fully validated REDD+ project. In addition, it was certified as a Voluntary Carbon Standard project by SCS Global Services in May 2013. This year, Rimba Raya achieved the Triple Gold ranking under the global Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) standards. Rimba Raya is one of only four projects globally to be verified to meet the CCB’s Triple Gold level. The CCB ranking means Rimba Raya meets exceptional targets in providing benefits for adapting to climate change, significant benefits for supporting communities around the project and protecting and nurturing the project’s rich and endangered plant and animal species, including orangutans.
The partnership and close working relationship between OFI and Rimba Raya continues today. The organizations collaborate frequently. OFI provides ground-level support and advice drawing from OFI’s long history in the region and experience with orangutans and with tropical forest conservation. Rimba Raya provides financial support and technical acumen to OFI. In addition to sharing knowledge and resources, the organizations even share staff via an unofficial exchange program.
Rimba Raya’s support has been of enormous help to OFI furthering OFI’s field operations. OFI is proud to continue and to expand its partnership with Rimba Raya, an InfinteEARTH Project.
