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

Photos

Login / Sign Up

Saturday, January 16, 2021

Gold / Forex

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

1 of 11

INDO 11.JPG-1608115242071 — Sumini (2R) briefing her team of women forest rangers prior to a patrol in the forest of Bener Meriah, Aceh province. Image Credit: AFP

2 of 11

INDO 1-1608115216129 — 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

3 of 11

TEASER INDO 2-1608115244289 — 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

4 of 11

INDO 3-1608115219355 — "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

5 of 11

INDO 4-1608115222267 — 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

6 of 11

INDO 5-1608115225326 — 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

7 of 11

INDO 6-1608115227789 — A woman forest ranger drinking from a root of a plant while on a patrol in the forest of Bener Meriah. Image Credit: AFP

8 of 11

INDO 7-1608115233502 — 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

9 of 11

INDO 8-1608115230490 — A woman forest ranger carrying her grandson after a patrol in the forest of Bener Meriah, Aceh province. Image Credit: AFP

10 of 11

INDO 9-1608115236575 — The group also tracks evidence of deforestation and replants trees by the thousands, with the help of more volunteers. Image Credit: AFP

11 of 11

INDO 10-1608115239407 — A group of women forest rangers patrolling in the forest of Bener Meriah. Image Credit: AFP

Latest In

Saudi women to be appointed as judges soon

5 minutes ago
Root double-ton puts England in command v Sri Lanka

8 minutes ago
Iran earthquake has no effect in UAE

17 minutes ago
Sindh Assembly outlaws recreational drugs

18 minutes ago
Dubai Customs completes 16 million transactions in 2020

28 minutes ago

This website stores cookies on your computer. These cookies are used to improve your experience and provide more personalized service to you. Both on your website and other media. To find out more about the cookies and data we use, please check out our Privacy Policy.

Photos News

Trending