Get involved in Indonesia, in northern Sumatra, to help preserve the rainforests and biodiversity of Gunung Leuser National Park. Work with local communities to develop sustainable alternatives.
Of the vast virgin rainforests that once covered the northern region of the island of Sumatra, only a few remnants remain today. The partner organisation works on the outskirts of Gunung Leuser National Park (PNGL). This park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a true biodiversity hotspot, sadly notorious for animal species at serious risk of extinction such as the orangutan, the tiger, the rhinoceros and the Sumatran elephant. Sumatra’s forests remain under threat due to illegal activities (logging, trapping, hunting or the capture of wild animals), but above all because of the conversion of secondary forests for urban development and industrial agriculture (palm oil). Thousands of hectares of secondary forest are destroyed every year. Discover the flexible volunteer programs of the same project.
Protecting biodiversity in Gunung Leuser National Park
The partner organisation’s aim is to preserve the tropical forests and biodiversity of Gunung Leuser National Park by developing sustainable alternatives in collaboration with local communities. Together with its local partners, it runs various projects to raise awareness among local people about environmental conservation. The aim is to create a protective buffer zone around the national park to develop sustainable economic alternatives there. This involves halting deforestation whilst developing agroforestry, the processing of agricultural products, crafts and ecotourism.
Development of an agroforestry park
At Simolap, the association’s base camp, the team is also developing an agroforestry park that will serve as a model for local communities. This park will serve three purposes:
- Growing vegetables, fruit trees, herbs, spices…
- Developing ethnobotany: wild plants and traditional medicine;
- To bring together as many species as possible found in this region of Sumatra.
The association also works with the national park authorities and the local NGO KPL (Komunitas Penyelamat Leuser) on reforestation of degraded areas within the national park, biodiversity surveys, research into endemic flora, wildlife observation and the installation of camera traps. It has recently begun organising surveillance patrols and expeditions to explore the many areas that remain unexplored. These expeditions are costly due to logistics, financial compensation for the families of the patrol team, and the salaries of national park staff.
The role of eco-volunteers
- Make the most of the experience by joining a multi-thematic project, tailored to projects in
- depending on the course and the season.
- On the programme:
- Community life in a rural village on the edge of the rainforest
- Participation in activities depending on the season and requirements:
- Agroforestry and plantations
- Patrols with the rangers and KPL
- Reforestation and restoration of degraded areas in the Gunung Leuser National Park buffer zone
- Environmental education and awareness
- Crafts and sustainable income-generating projects
- Any renovation or construction projects currently underway
- Support from our team and local partners
- Immersion in local culture and traditions, shared meals, learning traditional skills,
- Gaining knowledge about biodiversity and the environment.
- Every week is different and shaped by the needs on the ground and the weather.
- 1 week: €250 / €300 including a 1-day trek
- 10 days: €300 / €370 including a 2-day trek
- 2 weeks: €450 / €520 including a 2-day trek
- 3 weeks: €600 / €700 including a 3-day trek
- 1 month: €800 / €900 including a 4-day trek
- More than a month: would you like to stay longer? Please speak to our partner organisation!
All year round
Included in the price
- Accommodation. Eco-volunteers are initially accommodated in Simolap, in small cottages made from natural materials that can sleep between 2 and 6 people. Depending on the activities, location and length of stay, they may then be accommodated directly with local residents, in bivouacs or in tents during reforestation campaigns that take place too far from residential areas.
- Three meals a day, 1.5 litres of mineral water per day, unlimited coffee and tea, biscuits, snacks and fruit.
- Activities and supervision.
- As an added bonus, to thank participants for their enthusiasm, a trek lasting from one to several days to explore the biodiversity and landscapes of Gunung Leuser National Park (planned on site with the participants, according to their preferences and abilities, as well as the activities and weather conditions at the time).
Not included in the price
- Transport. We can arrange a transfer from Kualanamu Airport (Medan) or from another location in the region to Simolap Hot Springs, in the municipality of Kutambaru.
- Personal insurance.
- Support team: Franco-Indonesian team, rangers, guides, local coordinators
- Accommodation: in guesthouses or with local families, offering simple but cosy accommodation; camping during patrols.
- Meals: local cuisine, served as an all-you-can-eat buffet (vegetarian options available)
- Physical requirements: suitable for everyone; activities can be adapted to suit individual abilities; children must be aged 5 or over
- Location: near Gunung Leuser National Park in Sumatra, Indonesia
- Daily life: You will be staying in an Indonesian lodge, complete with a kitchen and communal areas, in the heart of a hamlet on the edge of the National Park. Your days will alternate between fieldwork, community activities and free time to get to know the local people and culture. There are frequent power cuts; the area has no mobile network coverage, but Wi-Fi access is available.
- Physical requirements: suitable for everyone; activities can be adapted to suit individual abilities; children must be at least 5 years old (recommended)
- Suitable for: individuals, couples, families, retired people, and groups of up to 15 people.
- Students, interns, and VSI volunteers are also welcome.
- Start dates for assignments: all year round
- Minimum length of stay: 1 week
- Recommended duration: 2 weeks
- Maximum duration: flexible
Get involved in protecting biodiversity in Indonesia!
Enjoy an immersive experience with the communities of Sumatra.
The eco-volunteers have their work cut out for them!
You’ll learn a lot about plants!
Work is being carried out with schools
About our partner organisation
Our partner is a French charity established in January 2017. Its aim is to develop agroecology and environmental protection projects in Sumatra, Indonesia, on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park, a biodiversity hotspot (home to the famous orangutans) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The organisation and its partners raise awareness and mobilise village communities around reforestation, protection and the preservation of biodiversity. They combat deforestation and oil palm monocultures by developing agricultural alternatives and other sustainable economic activities.
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