In spring of 2022, I had the opportunity to visit Indonesia with two friends and filmmakers, Flo & Davey, to meet Willie Smits and get to see his important work in animal and environmental preservation.
Indonesia is the largest producer of palm oil globally, which has a huge impact on their natural ecosystems and comes with many problems. Huge areas of rainforest are destroyed to make room for more plantations leading to animals losing their habitat and the loss of biodiversity. Local communities are losing their homes and being displaced. There is an intense environmental pollution due to the use of pesticides and fertilizers and improper waste management leading to water pollution and contaminated rivers. The list of problems goes on and on but to keep it short and comprehensive I only want to name a few.
Who is Willie Smits?
Willie has dedicated his life to protecting and preserving orangutans, who are one of the main sufferers of the problems mentioned. He has been working on orangutan conservation for more than 30 years and has gained worldwide recognition for his actions. In 1991, he founded the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF), which has emerged as the largest foundation worldwide, committed to the conservation and welfare of orangutans.
Willie showed us around several of the environmental and animal rescue projects he has spearheaded. His work involves not only saving individual orangutans but also rehabilitating degraded ecosystems, including reforestation efforts, sustainable land use practices, and alternative livelihood programs for local communities.
Meeting Willie Smits in Indonesia was an amazing experience. He is an inspiration for individuals and societies worldwide and I am absolutely stunned by his work and above all, his dedication for what he's doing.
Our mission:
We are aware that we cannot really stop what is happening in Indonesia. But what we can do, is to give our best by showing what is really happening, making people aware of the whole situation, making it more tangible and understandable and accessible for a larger audience.
If you are asking yourself what you can do to make a small impact, try to be aware of what you are consuming. Have you checked if your food contains palm oil? You will be shocked about how many products do.
These projects of Willie and his team live from donations and sponsors.
So if you really want to help, check out these links for more information and ways to donate:
Masarang Foundation (More about Masarang in Part 5)
Or contact me if you want any other image from the project!
100% of the profit from print sales will be donated.
This is Kabul.
Kabul is one of the last native Dayaks, living in the middle of nothing but oil palms, refusing to give up his home despite the encroachment of the palm oil industry.
The Dayak people, indigenous to the rainforests of Borneo, have a deep connection with the land they call home. For generations, they have lived and thrived in the middle of the jungle and its biodiversity and maintained a harmonious coexistence with nature. However, the expansion of palm oil plantations has threatened their way of life, devastating huge areas of pristine forest displacing countless communities.
On our five hour drive through thousands of hectares of oil palm plantations, we came past his home and Willie told us about his story. His house is the wooden shed you see below, which is kilometers away from any other civilization and infrastructure.
Kabul understands the economic benefits that the palm oil plantations might bring for the region but still, he is aware of the destructive consequences of the palm oil industry. Kabul’s understands the value of the rainforest as a complex ecosystem which makes him resist.
He will not give up his home.
Oil palms planted in peatlands, is one of the worst scenarios. The soil in the peatlands will decompose because of the use of fertilizers and other poisons, which makes the water level rise. The result: dead land, no more biodiversity, floodings etc.
Rumah Betang Ensaid Panjang: Preserving Dayak Heritage and Community Bonds
Another place where we came across and met local Dayak people is Rumah Betang Ensaid Panjang. It’s a local community living in a longhouse, which is common in the tradition of Dayak communities. The longhouse looks just like the name says and is a cultural hub for the community. It serves as a gathering place and also features multiple connected living spaces called ‘bilik’. Each bilik serves as a home for a family or a clan and promotes a strong sense of unity among the residents.
The projects of Willie and his team live from donations and sponsors.
So if you really want to help, check out these links for more information and ways to donate:
Masarang Foundation (More about Masarang in Part 5)
Or contact me if you want any other image from the project!
100% of the profit from print sales will be donated.
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