On August 28, 2024, following the workshop titled “Traceability Challenges of Palm Oil Industry Supply Chain Originating from Forest and Conservation Areas,” Inovasi Digital accompanied AAK on a visit to Tesso Nilo National Park to gain firsthand insight into the challenges faced by the national park, which plays a vital role as a buffer for ecosystems and biodiversity on the island of Sumatra.

Our visit was welcomed by the Head of Tesso Nilo National Park, Heru Sutmantoro, S.Hut, M.M, who highlighted the various threats to the national park’s existence, particularly from the palm oil industry, and emphasized the need for a comprehensive strategy to address these challenges. Accompanied by the staff of Tesso Nilo National Park, we toured the area to assess the condition of the remaining preserved forests and engaged directly with Sumatran elephants, an increasingly threatened species endemic to the region.

The visit also included an interaction with the Batang Nilo Women’s Group (PERBANI), a crucial conservation partner of the government. This group innovatively repurposes waste materials, such as using palm fronds for household crafts, plastic waste for construction, and organic waste for composting. They further contribute to economic development through the cultivation of kelulut honey. Additionally, the group is actively involved in growing seedlings of various forest fruit species for reforestation on degraded lands and plays a pivotal role in the prevention of forest and land fires.

We expressed our profound appreciation for the government’s initiatives, particularly those led by the Tesso Nilo National Park Office, and the efforts of the women’s group. Their dedication to enhancing economic capacity through the sustainable use of non-timber forest products, combined with their active participation in the conservation and restoration of Tesso Nilo National Park, is commendable and deserves recognition.