The Orangutan Conservancy is pleased to support camp restoration work at Borneo Nature Foundation’s Natural Laboratory of Peat-swamp Forest (LAHG), pictured above (an outside view of LAHG campsite. Credit: Borneo Nature Foundation) in Sebangau National Park in East Kalimantan. The site was a former logging camp that was converted into a permanent research station, that has supported studies since 1993. LAHG is also the site of the longest continuously run study on orangutan density and nest decay rates in the world!
LAHG not only serves as a vital research resource for Borneo Nature Foundation, but it also connects researchers across the region and globe. The site provides opportunities for regional and international scientists and students to carry out important work. Additionally, it provides a base for BNF’s patrol work, hydrology restoration, and reforestation teams.
Unfortunately, during the COVID-19 pandemic the cap was left unused for several months, without the possibility of regular maintenance. Now the site has multiple hazards such as broken floorboards and large holes in the roofing. Additionally, multiple walkways and boardwalks that are used to transect the forest (above the peat) have fallen into disrepair and make traversing the challenging terrain unsafe.