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Indonesia

Sano Nggoang

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Conservation benefit: Support of a 939-acre existing no-take forest reserve and a new 74-acre no-take forest reserve for 10 years

Community benefit: Health clinic

Date Approved: 01.2011

Forest

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

Sano Nggoang, located on the southwest coast of Flores Island, is one of 27 villages located around the 63,738-acre Mbeliling Forest. This “protected” forest was established under Dutch rule and expanded by the Indonesian government in 1991. It consists of two types of tropical rainforest ecosystems and is rich in limited-range bird life and endemic bird species. It serves as a critical watershed area for nearly 33,000 people in the area.

The village has committed to conserving an existing 939 acres of Mbeliling Forest and creating a new 74-acre community forest as a no-take zone for at least 10 years. Local NGO Burung Indonesia has worked with all 27 villages around the forest to draft a Nature Protection agreement, in the local dialect, that sets out rules and sanctions of the protected forest. Seacology partnered with Burung on two other successful projects around the Mbeliling Forest, at Cunca Lolos and Benteng Dewa Villages.

In return, Seacology is funding construction of a community health clinic. Malaria is common, but Sano Nggoang Village has virtually no medical care. A decrepit building serves as a clinic. The medic assigned to the area visits Sano Nggoang about once a month because of the lack of facilities there. The closest clinic is a two- to three-hour drive away on very bad roads, and public transportation is available only twice a week.

Project Updates

June 2012

The Seacology-funded health clinic in Sano Nggoang village was formally opened on May 10 in a ceremony between the villagers of Sano Nggoang and the Head of the Regency of West Manggarai. Two full-time medics have been assigned by the health department to the clinic and are now residing in the village. A permanent residence for the medics is being built behind the clinic. The clinic will operate daily from now on, to the delight of the villagers. The government has further vowed to provide ongoing support and funding for the operation of the clinic.

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March 2012

Basic building, roof construction, rough wall plaster, pit toilets, terrace, door and window frames have all been completed. Plans for the next stage of work include fine plastering of walls, and installation of ceiling, doors and windows, ceramic tiles, water and electricity. Construction of the village health post is a bit behind schedule as cultural events in Sano Nggoang dictates when work can or cannot be undertaken by construction workers. Regarding conservation efforts, up to this period there have been no human activities that have damaged the environment; however there were people harvesting non-tree fibers to make base material for rope. After finding out that this activity was taking place, an attempt was made to educate the communities so that nobody takes any more natural fibers from the protected forest. The village community in Sano Nggoang has planted 1,128 timber tree saplings in four locations around the village. The type of timber seedlings that have been planted are locally known as: koang, bancang, Ngancar, lokom and banyan. In addition to planting timber tree seedlings, Sano Nggoang villagers have also planted 420 cocoa and 2,740 clove seedlings in their own gardens so that there is some expected economic gain for the community in the future, which is hoped to alleviate temptations to utilize forest products.

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June 2011

According to project contact Umbu Randja Pati, the project development committee has conducted a survey of the procurement of red bricks. Based on survey results, the red brick maker will send 9,500 pieces of red brick to the site next week. Concrete and wood delivery has been delayed because the road into the village is currently in very bad condition due to rain.

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