Look: Indonesia's female forest guardians fight for the environment

The team on a mission to battle rampant deforestation and wildlife poaching

Published: December 16, 2020 14:56 AFP and Compiled by Devadasan K P, Picture Editor

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Sumini (2R) briefing her team of women forest rangers prior to a patrol in the forest of Bener Meriah, Aceh province. Image Credit: AFP

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The culprits are mostly men, including neighbours or even the husbands of team members, who live together in Damaran Baru village in the north of Sumatra. Above, a group of women forest rangers patrolling in the forest of Bener Meriah, Aceh province. Image Credit: AFP

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Deforestation and habitat loss have long been a problem across the vast Southeast Asian archipelago, which is among the most biodiverse nations on Earth. Image Credit: AFP

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"The forest has always been associated with men," said Sumini, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. "But we want to change that and say it's also about women. Women who are angry about environmental destruction and who are taking action to fix the problem." Image Credit: AFP

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The group, which now includes one of Sumini's sons and his wife, got its start in 2015 after a flash flood destroyed a dozen houses in the community of about 1,000 residents. Sumini's husband relented after repeated demands that he show her why so much wood and debris was mixed in with the floodwaters barrelling down from a nearby volcano. Image Credit: AFP

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A group of women forest rangers gathering around a stove prior to heading out on patrol in the forest in Bener Meriah, Aceh province. Image Credit: AFP

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A woman forest ranger drinking from a root of a plant while on a patrol in the forest of Bener Meriah. Image Credit: AFP

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Twice a month, the hijab-clad women strap on floppy hats and rubber boots before setting off for about five days at a time, navigating the steep, mountainous terrain. They search for signs of poaching and logging, remove animal traps, document endemic wildlife and plant species and post signs warning against illegal activity, which they report to government authorities. Image Credit: AFP

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A woman forest ranger carrying her grandson after a patrol in the forest of Bener Meriah, Aceh province. Image Credit: AFP

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The group also tracks evidence of deforestation and replants trees by the thousands, with the help of more volunteers. Image Credit: AFP

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A group of women forest rangers patrolling in the forest of Bener Meriah. Image Credit: AFP

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