Borneo was once covered in lush rainforests, but they are rapidly disappearing. Since the 1930s, this Southeast Asian island has lost half of its forest cover, destroying precious wildlife habitats and carbon storage areas. A non-profit organization called Health in Harmony (HIH) has launched a chainsaw buyback program, asking farmers to hand in their chainsaws in exchange for money and an opportunity to set up an alternative livelihood.
HIH runs this program in the Indonesian part of Borneo. Farmers can turn in their chainsaws used for illegal logging and receive around $200 in compensation, along with up to $450 in financial support to establish sustainable livelihoods, such as opening shops, organic farming, or beekeeping. Additionally, HIH collaborates with local communities to provide high-quality, affordable healthcare and training in organic farming skills.
By protecting Borneo’s rainforest, Health in Harmony is preserving the habitat of the animals that live there, including the critically endangered orangutan.
Since 2017, 279 loggers have handed in their chainsaws, protecting approximately 107,000 trees. Research indicates that since HIH opened a medical center and implemented conservation and education programs, the region's deforestation rate has dropped by 70%. However, the palm oil industry still poses a threat. HIH emphasizes that providing alternative livelihoods and community education is crucial for forest conservation.
