Community-Based Rainforest Restoration Work is Huge Success in Borneo
Aid Projects, Biodiversity, Community Projects, Deforestation, Demonstration Sites, Food Forests, Global Warming/Climate Change, Plant Systems, Regional Water Cycle, Rehabilitation, Soil Erosion & Contamination, Trees, Village Development — by Craig Mackintosh March 30, 2009
In his twenty minute talk, Willie Smits (a Dutch forestry scientist who emigrated to Indonesia 20 years ago to help the country grow trees) explains how a chance encounter with a dying baby Orangutan changed the direction of his work – culminating not only in his creating the biggest orangutan rehabilitation center in the world, but also in restoring large tracts of rainforest in a community-based endeavour that is bringing work and prosperity to the people too.
The word ‘Permaculture’ is never mentioned in the following TED presentation, but the project that is the subject of this talk certainly contains many elements of Permaculture design. Among the spectacular results of the project is a documented cooling in local climate, increased cloud cover and rainfall, and a rapid increase in biodiversity of flora and fauna.
Comments (5)
I think this is a beautiful example of what we can achieve and is the solution for the future and I think what Daniel Quinn said in his book Ishmael “with man gone will there be hope for gorilla?, and with gorilla gone will there be hope for man?”
Comment by Dominique Chanovre — April 3, 2009 @ 4:32 pm
Georgeous!. I absolutely on’t understand why such projects don’t get funding, or why funding gets cut short. “Greening the Desert” had the same effect on me. WHY was funding cut?
Comment by Christine Brooks — April 5, 2009 @ 2:57 am
I wish there was a transcript for this video – I’d love to view it. No chance of viewing this on a slow dial up connection – it would take days.
Comment by Emyr — May 9, 2009 @ 6:48 am
There is a transcript if you go to: http://www.ted.com/talks/willie_smits_restores_a_rainforest.html and click the “Open interactive transcript”. It is an extremely inspiring example!
Comment by Isa — December 23, 2009 @ 12:59 am
Thank you Isa
Comment by Emyr — December 23, 2009 @ 8:11 am
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Leave a comment