Wildlife Works Response to Floods at the Gerbang Barito REDD+ Project, Indonesia

Protecting Forests, Protecting Communities

By Tamara Anisa, WW Indonesia Communications Specialist

In March 2025, severe floods struck several villages in South Barito, Central Kalimantan, including areas within the Gerbang Barito REDD+ Project. Homes were submerged, schools were forced to close, and access to food and healthcare became a serious challenge for many. The situation was part of a wider disaster across four regencies in Central Kalimantan, where over 55,000 people were affected and nearly 12,000 homes inundated, based on government data as of March 22. South Barito Regency experienced the longest flood duration, lasting 89 days from January 7 to April 5, 2025. Villages such as Batampang and Batilap were among the hardest hit.

Amid this prolonged crisis, our local partners reached out to share updates from the ground, highlighting the growing health risks faced by residents. Responding to this urgent message, Wildlife Works Indonesia quickly mobilized an emergency response to support residents of Batampang and Batilap, two key villages actively engaged in the Gerbang Barito REDD+ Project.

Together with the Village Forest Management (LPHD) and local village governments, our team coordinated a three-day humanitarian response from March 24–26, 2025, bringing essential medical care and food supplies to affected families.

Delivering What Matters Most

Over 400 people received medical attention including treatment for respiratory issues, diarrhea, skin infections, high blood pressure, and other flood-related illnesses. Our healthcare volunteers also identified more serious cases in need of referral to hospitals, such as a case of chronic tonsillitis and an ear infection requiring specialized care.

Meanwhile, approximately 800 households received food relief. Each package contained essential goods including rice, cooking oil, tea, and syrup, necessities that had become hard to find due to the floods and persistent rains, which halted fishing and disrupted food supply chains in these rural areas.

The Power of Collaboration

This response was made possible through collaboration and community spirit. Medicines were sourced from multiple pharmacies in Palangkaraya and packed by volunteers, while food items were repacked to ease river transport and ensure efficient distribution at each village. Though there were logistical hiccups, including delays due to weather, missing recipient names, and space constraints, the team adapted quickly on the ground, ensuring no one was left behind.

“I would like to thank LPHD, Village Consultative Body, and Village Government for their support in ensuring this program ran smoothly. I hope this collaboration brings benefits to all of us,” said Samitro, Head of the Batampang Village Forest Management.

Despite the challenges, the response showed the power of acting swiftly and compassionately. We witnessed neighbors helping neighbors, village leaders stepping in to resolve confusion, and community members patiently waiting in line for care and support.

Climate Crisis and Its Impact on Communities

Flooding is no longer an isolated event. In Kalimantan and many other regions in Indonesia, it is becoming more intense and prolonged. Climate change is exacerbating floods, accelerating land degradation, and triggering disasters that directly impact the lives of forest-edge communities.

For those who depend on nature for food, water, and daily life, these crises are very real. Fishing, access to schools, and health services are all affected. In this context, conservation cannot be seen as simply protecting forests or wildlife, it must also help communities strengthen their resilience to increasing environmental challenges.

More than Forest Protection

For Wildlife Works, community-based conservation means more than preserving ecosystems. It means standing alongside communities in times of crisis. The relationships we build with communities are the foundation of long-term, sustainable conservation.

The emergency response in March 2025 was part of our early investment in community activities under the Gerbang Bariro REDD+ Project. While the project has not yet begun generating carbon credits, we believe it is essential to demonstrate our commitment from the start. These early actions reflect the value we place on trust and collaboration.

“As a member of the BPD (Village Consultative Body), representing the Head of Simpang Telo Hamlet, I would like to thank Wildlife Works for providing free medical services and food aid to our community. We hope Wildlife Works continues to succeed and, if possible, can offer similar support again in the future. On behalf of the community, we extend our deepest appreciation.”

This response underscores our guiding value that conservation is not just about protecting nature. To be effective, conservationists must stand with the people who safeguard nature. It’s about building trust, nurturing empathy, and being present when it matters most.