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Indonesia

Sarinbuana

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Conservation benefit: Village endorsement of a 1,975-acre permanent no-take rainforest reserve

Community benefit: Library/music/dance building, instruments and equipment

Date Approved: 01.2006

Forest

This project protects forest, preventing the release of greenhouse gases and reducing erosion that damages coastal and ocean ecosystems.

Sarinbuana is a small farming village perched 2,200 feet above sea level on the slopes of Mount Batukaru in Bali. Community members have been the traditional custodians of a 1,975-acre section of intact rainforest above their village.

The people of Sarinbuana are willing to formally endorse their role as guardians of the forest and protect it from all extractive activities. In exchange, Seacology will provide funds to build a library/music/dance building and to buy computers and musical instruments for the village primary school. Seacology will also fund signs and a natural stone pathway to an important temple in the forest.

Project Updates

November 2014

Program managers Karen Peterson and Mary Randolph visited the Seacology-funded community building in October. It’s in good repair and is being used for community events and festivals.

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March 2010

In February 2010, a small grant was supplied to Sarinbuana Village to complete the children’s gamelan set. The children welcomed the Balinese New Year in with their newly completed set on March 16, 2010.

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October 2009

As part of its pledge to support maintenance of active projects, Seacology funded the tiling of the floor of the community building, which was completed in September 2009.

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May 2008

Conservation efforts remain positive and ongoing within the community. A few villagers have increased their activity as nature guides within the forest reserve. Project leaders are reporting increased bird activity within the forest. Plans for the rest of 2008 include finishing the last instruments for the community center’s gamelan ensemble and completing work on a forest temple.

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December 2007

The village began construction in late spring 2007, completing the building in August 2007. The building has a computer room for the school and the community as well as a hand-carved gamelan (set of traditional musical instruments) for the children’s orchestra. Construction of the stepping path and demarcation signs for the forest reserve were also completed. An official opening ceremony was held in October 2007 with members of the Seacology expedition to Raja Ampat in attendance.

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June 2007

As of March 2007, designs for the building were being finalized, and the village planned to begin construction in late spring 2007. Wood carvings for the gamelan (traditional Balinese musical instruments) were being completed in preparation for instrument construction and their eventual use in the refurbished building. Construction of the stepping path and demarcation signs for the forest reserve was also being completed. The village anticipates that they will have some funding left over to build an ecofriendly public toilet at the top of the stone path at the temple.

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January 2007

In 2006, villagers asked Seacology if they could make two areas within the reserve (approximately three acres) exempt from permanent reserve status so they can properly anticipate the need for future repairs to the sites of two existing temples. With the agreement modified to reflect this exemption, the project leader sent in the final paperwork in September 2006.

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June 2006

Seacology has received a budget for the project and a map of the proposed protected area. The village is currently reviewing the covenant agreeing to the long-term commitment of the no-take reserve, which they want to honor very seriously. They may ask Seacology to agree to clarify that an area within the no-take zone of about three acres is for existing temple uses. Field Representative Arnaz Mehta expects documentation to be ready by June 2006.

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