The rise of wildlife
“Joining the SMART Patrol team has changed my life. I used to hunt, but now I focus on protecting and safeguarding protected species. I’m proud to help my community understand the importance of conservation.”
Protecting endangered and vulnerable species
What is the point of having standing forests if they are silent?
With its vast archipelago spanning tropical rainforests, mangroves, and coral reefs, Indonesia is home to some of the most iconic, beloved, and ecologically unique species. Indonesia is considered as one of the megadiverse countries. It hosts 10% of the world’s flowering species (estimated 25,000 flowering plants), ≈ 12% of the world’s mammals (515 species), 16% of the world’s reptiles (781 species), and 35 species of primates, 17% of the total species of birds (1,592 species) and 270 species of amphibians. It is a living wonder.
However, this rich biodiversity faces significant threats. Habitat destruction, illegal wildlife trade, urban expansion, and climate change are rapidly degrading habitats and pushing many species toward extinction.
Depending on the species, biodiversity monitoring can be difficult and there are many techniques we employ to see how putting the community back behind the wheel in conservation impacts wildlife. At Planet Indonesia we have a dedicated biodiversity monitoring team, that utilizes transects, pooling local expert opinion (PLEO), data from community-led SMART patrols, camera traps, bioacoustics, and nest monitoring to track the abundance and distribution of species. We are using this data, in management plans and area protection strategies, as well as in formulating conservation policies that ensure that species are managed properly and biodiversity thrives.
The following data comes from our most recent spatical analysis that will feed into greater modeling, looking specifically at 29 species or groups of species that are ecologically or economically important to where we work. It represents a highlight of the vast amount of data our biodiversity team has and the work they do.
The ecological tapestry
Taking a look at the big picture, the average encounter rate for all 29 species and groups of species across all landscapes has increased over time. This is a huge finding that we are excited about. As we dive into individual species and how the data can inform their management plans and anti-poaching initiatives, we are reminded that overall wildlife is rising. Along with communities, forest and mangrove biodiversity is thriving.
Fig 1. Average encounter rate for all 29 species and groups of species across all landscpaes from 2018-2024. Average increase of 18%.
A reduction in poaching
Using real-time community-led patrol data over a 70 month period we analysed the change in exploitative activities in core no-take zones and sustainable use zones from over ½ a million hectares.
Results show a significant reduction in illegal farming, hunting, logging, and fishing. This further sheds light on the impact of the approach as it uses real ground data to test behavioral changes in how forest areas are utilized and agreements are complied with. On average, exploitative activities are reduced ~60% within the first three years of partnering with a village.
Fig 2. Encounter rate of illegal activities over time after a community governance body and SMART patrol establishment.
A snapshot at the species that have thrived and increased over the past decade
Hover for the data.
hORNBILLS
Hornbills hold a significant place in Indonesian culture and mythology, often symbolizing strength, prosperity, and spiritual connection to nature. Eight of the 13 Indonesian species are found in West Kalimantan. Gunung Naning has been described as a safe haven for hornbill species, and we can see why as observations of hornbills have been steadily rising over the last few years (fig 3.)
Fig 3. Total number of observations from patrols of all hornbill species from 2018-2024 in Gunung Nyiut.
One species in particular we have been monitoring closely is the Critically Endangered Helmeted hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil). Hunted for their unique casques for sale in illegal wildlife markets during nesting seasons our biodiversity team and communities monitor and protect the nests around the clock as this is the most vulnerable time for the females and chicks who reside in a sealed tree cavity (you can see the male feeding the female in the video above).
Helmeted Hornbills are listed as critically endangered, meaning they have decreased in population size by over 80% and expected to potentially go extinct in the next three generations.
Fig 4 and fig 5 show the average encounter rate (detection per kilometer patrolled) of Helmeted hornbills in both terrestrial sites, Gunung Nyiut and Gunung Naning. It is very encouraging to see an increase in encounters, especially in Gunung Nyiut where we have been working to protect nests, and conserve this unique species for a greater amount of time. Stay tuned in 2025 for the release of a new documentary: Guardian of Tagong which follows Pak Vera, a former hornbill poacher turned protector, as he shares his lessons with communities across Gunung Naning.
Fig 4. Average encounter rate of helmeted hornbill over time by SMART patrol teams in Gunung Nyiut between 2018 - 2024
Fig 5. Average encounter rate helmeted hornbill over time by SMART patrol teams in Gunung Naning between 2020 - 2024
In Gunung Nyiut, using density estimates from Distance Sampling models we found between 2019-2024 the Helmeted hornbill population densities fluctuated from ~1.9 - 1.0 birds per kilometer over the period. For a species that is critically endangered, where every individual counts it is amazing to see this species is stable in this safe haven (fig 6.)
Fig 6. Helmeted hornbill density estimates across models 2019 - 2024
Our Research Center in Gunung Nyiut
Gibbons
West Kalimantan hosts two species of Gibbon, both of which are endangered. The White bearded gibbon (Hylobates albibarbis), which is found in the tropical evergreen forests of Gunung Naning and the Abbott’s gray gibbon (Hylobates abbotti) found in the dipterocarp forests of Gunung Nyiut. Being endemic to the island of Borneo, trade estimates suggest that hundreds of individuals of each species were annually poached by local communities to largely supply the illegal wildlife pet trade. Though primate hunting and trade is highlighted as ‘opportunistic’, key motivations of local communities were found to include killing adults to obtain younglings to keep or sell as a pet, followed by retaliation killings due to crop-raiding. This is because local communities living across forested areas inhabited by such species are well aware of their commercial value. In light of lax law enforcement and protected area management, coupled with pressures of rural poverty and inflated costs of access to basic services, it is hard to imagine why such local communities will forgo opportunities for poaching when they arise.
While total number of observations of gibbons has improved over time (fig 7), when we examine encounter rate (detection per kilometer patrolled) it tells a slightly different story.
Fig 7. Observations of gibbons by SMART patrols over 2019-2024.
The encounter rate for the Abbott’s gray gibbon started low, but rose through the last seven years, which is encouraging (fig 8). The encounter rate of White bearded gibbons, although higher totally than Abbott’s gray gibbon was disappointedly decreasing (fig 9).
The reasoning behind this may be due to the demand in trade but it may be due to the elusiveness of these species and the size of Gunung Naning (229,000 ha) as gibbons follow the seasonal fruiting trees across wet and dry seasons and sometimes travel out of patrol areas. Further analysis and discussions with communities in the coming months will help us understand and inform species management plans. Our bioacoustics analysis happening in 2025 across Gunung Naning will uncover a lot more about the population dynamics of this species (see below).
Fig 9. Average encounter rate from patrols of White bearded gibbons from 2020-2024 in Gunung Naning
Fig 8. Average encounter rate from patrols of Abbott's Gray Gibbon from 2018-2024 in Gunung Nyiut
In 2020, Planet Indonesia discovered a small population of the Bornean Banded Langur (Presbytis chrysomelas) in Gunung Nyiut – a species thought to have a population of fewer than 300 individuals globally and not seen in Indonesia in over 40 years.
Finding lost species
Photo credit: Chien Lee in Sarawak
pangolins
One species that we know is critically endangered and benefits from specific interventions to increase its survival is the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica).
There has been a pattern of large seizures, arrests, and prosecutions of pangolin traders in West Kalimantan over the last few years. In one of the largest cases from 2023, experts claimed up to 2000 pangolins could have been killed for the scales in just one seizure. Poached traditionally for their meat in rural Indonesia, in the last decade pangolin scales have risen on the market, sold to middlemen and eventually exported to meet the growing demand in international markets. Pangolins have the tragic title of the world’s most trafficked mammals.
While we know pangolins are being poached and that their number has declined in Indonesia’s forests in the last 30 years, the forests of Gunung Nyiut - where density estimated have increased from 2.05 to 3.17 over 2 years - and Gunung Naning - part of the largest remaining continuous intact forest that makes up the ‘Heart of Borneo’ - are a pangolin stronghold. Evident by numerous signs - such as burrows and tree scratches and sightings.
We are however working with law enforcement, on crime script analysis and wildlife trafficking intel (our sister Wak Gatak team), and with communities on community-based social marketing initiatives to reduce poaching to tackle the wildlife trade in pangolins from forest to courts.
Signs of pangolin presence in Gunung Naning: Burrows and feeding holes found by SMART Patrol teams during their field surveys.
Copper throated sunbird (Leptocoma calcostetha)
Sea Turtles
It is not just in forests where we monitor wildlife. In the Karimata Marine Reserve, Kalimantan’s largest marine protected area, communities have begun to monitor and protect some of the most ancient creatures of the sea, the nests of marine turtles.
Two species; the critically endangered Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and the endangered Green Turtle (Cheloniamydas mydas) are often encountered by the community as they come to lay their eggs on the beach. The Karimata Islands Marine Nature Reserve is a conservation area, but despite this poaching of sea turtle nests for their eggs still occurs.
To strengthen turtle conservation strategies, and protect the nest, in August 2023 PI provided turtle monitoring training, with invited experts Ir. Budi Suriansyah, M. Hut, to 20 people; 7 village residents, 4 government agents, and 9 staff members. Participants were trained in 1) understanding national strategies and concepts regarding turtle conservation that must be implemented in the field; 2) turtle monitoring techniques; 3) techniques for determining suitable turtle habitat; 4) techniques for relocating turtle eggs to semi-natural nests; and 5) prevention strategies against turtle predators.
At the end of the training activities, 11 priority areas in Karimata were agreed to be routinely monitored by the Turtle Monitoring Team together with the West Kalimantan Government. Routine monitoring officially began in December 2023, with the aim to increase the sea turtle nesting success rate of these species historically threatened by the illegal wildlife trade. This activity runs alongside our existing work as a holistic approach to strengthen locally-led governance over marine resources to restore coastal fisheries, improve livelihood resilience, and reduce the dependency of coastal communities on illegal wildlife trade.
Field Practice for Profiling Potential Turtle Nesting Habitats along the Coast
Green Sea Turtle hatchling (Chelonia mydas)
How we are harnessing AI and bioacoustics in 2025
This year we began a new project “Utilizing conservation technology to implement scalable biodiversity monitoring” in the thick dense forests of Gunung Naning. Unlike Gunung Nyiut, this site has no research station and we truly do not know what lies deep in the forest.
In partnership with Wildmon, using innovative AI tools, we will analyze soundscapes and camera trap photos of up to one hundred species of interest, focusing on sixteen IUCN Red Listed species across the landscape.
In such an expansive, thick forested area where biodiversity monitoring has been impractical, if not impossible before, this new project will help us understand what is in the canopy and with great visual data, detect threats to the environment and allow the Indigenous Dayak communities to make the right conservation decisions for the forests they live in.
We wish to thank Cartier for Nature for supporting this work.
AudioMoth Microphone instillation in the forest
“This is the first time we have used the power of AI to conduct biodiversity monitoring, and it is opening new horizons for us.”