The Important Role of Patrol Teams in Protecting the Forests of Rio Kemunyang Village

One of the efforts to protect Village Forest areas from encroachment and wildlife poaching to ensure their sustainability is through patrol and area monitoring activities. The routine patrol activities conducted by the patrol team of LPHD Rio Kemunyang, Durian Rambun Village, aim to monitor changes in forest cover and the presence of trees within it, which serve as one of the key indicators of the success of the Biodiversity Offset program in Durian Rambun Village.

Forest area protection activities involve patrols and monitoring using SMART Patrol and camera traps to maximize patrol effectiveness and improve data management and oversight within the village forest area. Biodiversity surveys are part of the patrol activities and aim to collect data on signs of wildlife presence, including tracks, droppings, claw marks, and other signs, as well as to record various plant species—timber species, non-timber forest products (NTFPs), animal food plants, rare plants, and other vegetation found within the Rio Kemunyang Village Forest area. The patrol team also carries out ground checks and land clearing surveys as part of efforts to safeguard and monitor the Village Forest and conducts awareness and education campaigns to the community on the importance of protecting the forest ecosystem.

Current patrol team activities include mapping the extent of cleared land, counting the number of tree stumps, measuring stump diameters, identifying the felled tree species, and determining land ownership. Ground checks were conducted in an area where land clearing activities occurred over the past year, specifically in 2022. The field results showed that 2 hectares of land were cleared in 2022, with 61 stumps found in the area, having diameters ranging from 100 to 300 cm. Tree species identified by the field team included White Meranti, Yellow Meranti, Jelutung, Kasai, Trap, and others.

Despite facing many challenges while securing the forest, such as navigating dense vegetation, harsh natural conditions, and direct confrontations with illegal loggers, the patrol team remains committed. A total of seven dedicated individuals serve as the selected "champion" patrol team, assisted by staff from Fauna–Flora International (FFI) Jambi. Patrol activities within the forest are further supported by Village Regulations (Perdes) and customary laws, which govern the mechanisms for land clearing, NTFP harvesting, and other matters related to Village Forest management.