Sangga Canopy
Strengthening forest governance through collaboration
An integrated, multi‑stakeholder approach to conserving Mendawak’s forests
Mendawak is dominated by industrial concessions, all operating according to commodity-specific rules, interspersed with village forests that are managed under differing government regulations and land classifications. As such, advancing landscape-wide forest conservation in Mendawak requires an adaptive and integrated approach that prioritises multi-stakeholder collaboration.
Sangga Bumi Lestari implements our Sangga Canopy approach, through which we strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration, establish multi-stakeholder forest management agreements, advance integrated land-use planning, and build the capacity of rural villagers to engage in forest-positive initiatives.
Establish Multi-Stakeholder Working Groups
Conserving forests and wildlife in a complex, concession‑dominated landscape like Mendawak requires commitment from all key actors. Sangga Bumi Lestari establishes Multi‑Stakeholder Working Groups as neutral, government‑facilitated forums where communities, companies, and authorities can collaborate on shared conservation and development goals.
The Working Groups provide safe spaces for dialogue, coordination, and the development of concrete co‑management agreements across forests, biodiversity, and community development initiatives.
Secure a Multi-Stakeholder-Managed Forest Corridor
Protecting forests and wildlife in Mendawak is challenging in a landscape dominated by multiple industrial concessions and fragmented land‑use categories. To address this, Sangga Bumi Lestari is working with concession holders, communities, and government agencies to secure a 99,875‑hectare forest corridor that is critical for the survival of the Critically Endangered Bornean orangutan.
By aligning conservation strategies across concessions and village forests, we are developing a pioneering model of multi‑stakeholder forest co‑management that connects habitats, safeguards biodiversity, and can be replicated beyond Mendawak.
Facilitate Standardised Village-Level Land Management
Complex land classifications and fragmented regulations in Indonesia make it difficult for villages to manage land, protect forests, and defend community interests—especially in concession‑dominated landscapes like Mendawak. Sangga Bumi Lestari supports villages to develop standardised, legally recognised land‑use planning that integrates conservation and sustainable development.
By strengthening village spatial planning and embedding it into formal village development and budgeting processes, we enable communities to engage more equitably with government and corporate actors while securing their long‑term livelihoods.
Build Public-Private Partnerships
In Mendawak, industrial concessions play a decisive role in shaping landscapes, livelihoods, and conservation outcomes. Sangga Bumi Lestari builds public‑private partnerships that bring companies and communities together to improve forest governance, strengthen livelihoods, and deliver meaningful Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) outcomes.
By facilitating dialogue and aligning community needs with regulatory frameworks and industry standards, we help transform complex relationships into collaborative, place‑based solutions.
Independent Monitoring of CSR Programmes
In West Kalimantan, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes are mandatory, yet there is no formal mechanism to monitor their quality or impact. Sangga Bumi Lestari is developing an independent system to document, verify, and assess CSR initiatives across Mendawak.
By improving transparency and aligning CSR activities with government priorities and community needs, we support more effective, accountable, and impactful CSR implementation.
Increase Indigenous Land Rights
Indigenous peoples in Mendawak have managed forests for generations, yet often lack formal legal recognition of their rights. Sangga Bumi Lestari supports indigenous communities to secure official recognition of customary status and territories, strengthening their voice in land‑use decisions and protecting forests from external pressures.
By advancing pathways towards Customary Law Community and Customary Territory recognition, we help lay the foundation for long‑term indigenous forest governance.
Advance Development-Focused Social Forestry
Indonesia’s social forestry policy offers multiple pathways for community forest management, yet many development‑oriented schemes remain underutilised. Sangga Bumi Lestari advances social forestry models that strengthen livelihoods, improve forest management, and demonstrate how community‑based forest use can support sustainable development.
By supporting the review, implementation, and monitoring of innovative social forestry schemes, we position Mendawak as a living case study for development‑focused forest governance.
Build a Landscape-Wide Biodiversity Database
Effective landscape‑wide conservation in Mendawak is constrained by limited biodiversity data, particularly within industrial concessions. Sangga Bumi Lestari is building a landscape‑wide biodiversity database to establish a scientific foundation for conservation planning, forest restoration, and integrated land management.
By conducting field surveys and encouraging data sharing, we are improving knowledge of species distribution and identifying priority habitats across the Mendawak landscape.