Pak Asdi (45) from Bamadu village has been an illegal logger and jungle rubber (jelutung) collector for most of his life starting in 1993.  Over the years working in the forest that is now managed by Katingan Mentaya Project, he has developed a deep knowledge of the forests and also come to realize the extent of the destruction.  While logging has been providing him with a steady income to support his family, it was a very risky endeavour for him.  In 2013 he joined KMP as a member of forest fighting team and in 2015 he became a permanent member of KMP’s community development team.    

Ibu Murni (48) from Mentaya Seberang is a born leader.  She earns her living by selling vegetables at the local market and a small shop out at her house.  When she is not running her business, she is actively involved in local women’s group organizing maternal and child health services or religious gatherings.  She is also the treasurer of a local cooperative.  Propelled by her curiosity to learn about the Katingan Mentaya Project’s approach in developing more sustainable ways of doing business, she has been using her social capital raise awareness of the importance of forest conservation.  

Ibu Maria (45) moved with her family from her native East Timor to Seragam Jaya village in 1992 as part of the government transmigration program.  She has a small scale rubber plantation that was given by the government to transmigrants.  She teaches religion at school and opens her house as a place of worship for the small Christian community in the village.   In addition, she is an active officer in the village government promoting maternal and child health awareness.  Similar to the Katingan Mentaya Project’s vision, she holds a deep belief that forests should be protected not only for the human benefits but also for all other living beings.   

Pak Yaimin (62) has been a farmer throughout his life.  He moved from Java to Kalimantan as part of the government-sponsored transmigration program in 1990s.  Like most farmers around Katingan Mentaya Project, he used to clear his land by burning during the dry season.  After 2015 forest fire disaster, when authorities started to strictly enforce non-burning regulations, he worked closely with KMP team to develop non-burning non-chemical agriculture practices.  Using mulch and local soil bacteria propagation techniques, he now produces organic rice and vegetables for local market.  To provide incentives for local farmers to follow Pak Yaimin’s foot steps, KMP institutes a procurement policy to buy all non-burning no-chemical agriculture products at a premium.

Pak Johansyah (36) from Telaga village was one of the hundreds illegal loggers turned gold miners as local sawmills went out of business in 2006.  Along the Klaru River, north of the Katingan Mentaya Project, he and his crew utilized simple tools and mercury to extract gold nuggets from sands digged from previously forested areas.  In 2014 he started planting various plants.  Through trial and error, he grew bananas and vegetables and started to see tree grow.  In 2016 PT RMU began to support his restoration experiments by providing technical assistance and seeds.  Pak Johansyah’s early success has attracted the attention of other miners.