🌳 Chainsaw amnesty protects rainforest in Borneo by exchanging chainsaws for healthcare

• 279 loggers have turned in their chainsaws since 2017.
• The program has reduced deforestation by 70 percent over 10 years.
• The initiative combines environmental protection with improved access to healthcare for local communities.

Innovative program tackles deforestation

A unique program to protect the rainforest is underway in Borneo. The organization Health in Harmony (HIH) is running an initiative where local farmers are encouraged to turn in their chainsaws in exchange for money and opportunities for alternative livelihoods, reports CNN.

Borneo has lost half of its forest cover since the 1930s, threatening habitats for animal species such as the orangutan. While large-scale palm oil industry accounts for a significant part of deforestation, small-scale farmers also contribute to the problem through illegal logging.

Financial support and alternative livelihoods

HIH's program, which started in 2017, offers farmers about 200 dollars for their chainsaws. In addition, they receive up to 450 dollars in financial support to start sustainable businesses such as shops, organic farming, or beekeeping.

Mahardika Putra, conservation manager at HIH, explains that many farmers turn to logging to quickly get money for basic needs such as healthcare. To address this, HIH has opened a medical center. Putra reports that infant mortality in the area has decreased by 67 percent since the center opened in 2007.

The program offers innovative payment solutions for healthcare. Patients can pay with seedlings, manure, or rice husks, which are used in the organization's reforestation program and sustainable agriculture program. Villages that show reduced illegal logging also receive discounts on healthcare.

Measurable results

A 2020 study from Stanford University showed that deforestation decreased by 70 percent during the 10 years after the clinic opened, equivalent to protecting over 27.4 square kilometers of rainforest.

According to HIH, household logging has decreased by 90 percent. Since 2017, 279 loggers have turned in their chainsaws, which is estimated to have protected over 100,000 trees, including 15,000 old-growth trees.

Challenges with the palm oil industry

Despite the successes, the lucrative palm oil industry still poses a threat. Putra points out that even after turning in their chainsaws, former loggers may choose to grow palm oil on their rice fields without sufficient knowledge, which can lead to ruined farms and negative environmental impact.

HIH therefore works with education programs to encourage local communities to make better choices before converting their rice fields to palm oil plantations.

Recognition and future prospects

HIH's work has received international recognition, including the Ashden Award for Natural Climate Solutions 2022 and the Keeling Curve Prize 2023 for social and cultural pathways to climate solutions.

Dr. Skylar Hopkins, assistant professor at North Carolina State University, emphasizes the importance of combining environmental protection with support for local communities to achieve effective conservation solutions.

For HIH, the focus on collaboration with local communities is central. Putra emphasizes that the organization does not make decisions for the local population but recognizes their voices and helps with what is needed most.

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