INDONESIA, Mandalamekar Village, Java - May 2009
Multi-Purpose Community Building in support of replanting 72 acres and protecting a total of 267 acres of no-take rainforest
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Mandalamekar Village, located in the highlands of West Java, is home to 3,200 people who are mainly engaged in farming. Mandalamekar Village recently created its own protected forest area of four sections totaling 267 acres. In 2008, the village took it upon itself to reclaim 74 acres of community land and replanted about 12,000 native tree seedlings. They plan to expand tree-planting activities to cover another 72 acres of degraded forest with about 15,000 seedlings in 2009. Since the main intent of replanting and protecting this forest is to enhance this critical watershed function for the village, the village wants to protect this forest into perpetuity. The forest features several significant waterfalls and is an important habitat for several primate species such as lutungs, the endangered Javan Surili and many kinds of birds. The primary need in Mandalamekar Village is a multi-purpose community building for village meetings, art, culture and recreation. The community is keen to make an agreement to protect the no-take forest in exchange for this much-needed village facility. The village government, village police, village civil defense force and an informal community group called Mitra Alam Muggaran will conduct patrols and build a communication system to facilitate the patrols. *
UPDATE August 2009 - As of early August 2009 project contact Irman Meilandi reports that the materials for the building have been delivered to the village and construction has begun.
UPDATE November 2009 - As of November 2009 construction is more than half complete, with the foundation and many of the structural elements in place. The second phase of construction will include the installation of remaining structural elements, along with the roof and interior painting and other details. Additionally, a local environmental group, Mitra Alam Munggaran, has been working in the Karang Soak Forest to replant and maintain seedlings on 29 hectacres land. The group has also been engaging local junior high school students in environmental education projects that teach the importance of replanting and responsible forestry stewardship.
UPDATE June 2010 - As of June 2010 project contact Irman Meilandi reports that the community multi-purpose building is 90% completed, with only painting remaining. The building has been in use since March 2010. Additionally, Mandalamekar Village was chosen by the Tasikmalaya Regency government to receive assistance in replanting. The provincial forestry office of West Java is providing monetary assistance in the amount of 100 million rupiah for forest protection in the village springs of Mandalamekar. Mitra Alam Munggaran will use these funds to finance the maintenance of trees and economic development groups.
UPDATE January 2011 - Seacology Program Manager Karen Peterson and Indonesia Field Representative Arnaz Mehta visited the village in October 2010. There was a welcoming ceremony at the building, which is completed except for some plumbing and finish work. The building is being regularly used for meetings, school activities, and badminton. The office in the front of the building is being used by community leaders as well as local environmental group Mitra Alam Munggaran. Conservation work in the community's forest continues, with tree planting as well as plans for acquiring additional land to protect.
Blog updates (in Indonesian)
UPDATE June 2011 - The community building is now completed. The final report for this project was received in April 2011.
*Support for asterisked projects is provided fully or in part by: 
