Program managers Karen Peterson and Mary Randolph visited Banyar Anyar in October. The building is finished and being used. Stonemasons were adding beautiful decorative touches in the ornate Balinese style.

According to Indonesia Field Representative Arnaz Mehta, “I just had the pleasure of visiting Banjar Anyar again to meet with some of the village leaders there and to check out the Seacology funded community meeting hall. They just finished tiling most of the floor of the community building in time for a huge ceremony that took place last month for the blessing of various new buildings in their local temple. They tell me that the community building was a very useful place in greeting and gathering all the Balinese guests who came to the ceremony, of which there were hundreds of people, including the governor of Bali. They were very glad to have this building for this purpose but said they often use the building for social and cultural meetings. Conservation-wise, the forest is in good shape and protection is ongoing. Monitors from the local forestry department visit every couple of months to survey the condition of the forest. Outside of the protected forest the villagers have been planting bamboo along their rivers to stop erosion and are starting to plant durian trees on a village-wide basis.”

Indonesia Field Representative Arnaz Mehta visited the community in late September, and met with the villagers and the project manager. According to Arnaz, “The building is a substantial two level building instead of just a single level as was originally planned. The villagers have put in a significant amount of volunteer time and donations from village funds into the construction of the building. While the building is 90% completed and functioning as a community meeting place, the finishing elements (plastering, paint, tiles and wood carvings) remain to be completed, and will be finished as funds are collected from the community to do so. The villagers estimate that approximately another $5,000 will be needed to entirely complete the building but are not expecting Seacology to donate this. They are very grateful for the contribution from Seacology and have acknowledged that had they scaled down the building to what was originally planned then the building would have been complete with the funds given to them. The building is currently being used to hold meetings and when it is complete it will be used for gamelan practices and Balinese dance practices. The forest remains in good care and no infractions in the ‘no-take’ zone have occurred. The village is being vigilant about all activities in the forest.”