15 YEARS PROTECTING THE LESAN FOREST, THE RANGER NAMED ABET

15 YEARS PROTECTING THE LESAN FOREST, THE RANGER NAMED ABET

Abet is a dedicated member of the community who has devoted himself to the Lesan Forest. He was actively involved in the efforts to establish the Lesan Protected Forest. At that time, Abet was very young, but he was very enthusiastic. Because of his experience as a hunter with his family, he was very familiar with the Lesan Forest area, so the survey team invited Abet to explore the entire Lesan Forest. Abet was involved for two years to conduct biodiversity surveys in the Lesan Forest until he became familiar with the names of the animals and tree species in the forest.

When the Lesan Forest was finally designated as a protected forest in 2012, Abet became one of the first rangers to serve at Camp Lesan to guard the forest. At that time, Abet was under the authority of the Berau Regency government to protect the Lesan Forest. However, in 2015, the protected forest security program was halted and Camp Lesan was abandoned. Despite this, Abet continued to be committed to protecting the forest along with the youths in Lesan Dayak Village.

In 2022, the organization Fans for Nature finally supported the Lesan Forest protection program, and Abet was again involved as one of the rangers. He was very happy to be able to return to the camp he loved and continue to protect the forest he had once fought for.

Abet’s story is a glimpse of how many people around the forest still care about saving the forest, but they need our support. Commitments like those made by Fans for Nature are concrete evidence that forest protection can start at the grassroots level and continue to grow. In his dedication, Abet faced many challenges. He often encountered threats from illegal loggers who tried to exploit the forest resources illegally. Abet and his colleagues often had to patrol at night to ensure no illegal activities were taking place in the protected forest. Abet’s experience as a hunter in the past gave him special skills in tracking and understanding wildlife behavior. These skills were very useful in his duties as a ranger. He could recognize the tracks of protected animals and take the necessary steps to protect them from danger. Additionally, Abet played a role in community education. He often conducted socialization and training on the importance of forest conservation to the villagers. He explained how a healthy forest could provide long-term benefits for the community, such as clean water sources, fresh air, and economic opportunities through ecotourism. Abet was also involved in forest rehabilitation programs. Together with the community, he planted thousands of tree seedlings to restore forest areas damaged by human activities. He taught the correct planting techniques to the community, ensuring that the trees planted had a high chance of growing and thriving.

The support from Fans for Nature greatly helped Abet continue his mission. With additional funds and resources, Abet and his team could expand their patrol range, increase forest security, and develop more effective conservation programs. They could also purchase needed equipment, such as camera traps and GPS devices, to monitor biodiversity in the forest more accurately.

For him, seeing the forest remain green and the wildlife roam freely was a satisfaction in itself. He often said that the forest is a heritage that must be preserved for future generations, and he felt proud to contribute to preserving that heritage. Abet’s experience also taught that conservation success cannot be achieved alone. It requires cooperation between various parties, from local communities and governments to non-governmental organizations. This joint commitment is what ultimately can maintain the sustainability of the forest and its biodiversity.

Through Abet’s story, we can see how important the role of individuals is in conservation efforts. Despite the numerous challenges faced, with strong determination and the right support, we can protect our forests and environment for a better future. Abet also inspires the younger generation in his village. Many young people who previously did not care much about the environment are now involved in conservation activities. They see Abet as a role model and learn from him how to protect the forest and sustainably utilize natural resources. By continuing to strive and collaborate, we can ensure that the forests and their biodiversity remain sustainable. Abet's 15-year struggle is proof that with strong determination, we can face challenges and protect our natural heritage.