Kepayang
Community Forest
Project Size:
4,935 Hectares
Project Type:
Wetlands Conservation and Restoration (WRC) Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR)
Project Location:
South Sumatra, Indonesia
PROJECT IMPACT
Healthcare
46
residents received routine health check-ups
Livelihoods
15
locals employed as forest patrol team
Climate
2.5M
tons of estimated CO2 reduction
Fire Prevention
16
canal blocks installed to reduce forest fire risk
Clean Water
30
water catchments installed
Hear The SoundKepayang Community Forest
Project Overview
2023
Empowering Community, restoring nature
The Kepayang Community Forest Project is a community-based conservation initiative focused on protecting and restoring a community-managed forest in the Merang peat dome in South Sumatra. In December 2022, with initial 3-year funding from Nestlé, work began on the project to safeguard this forest - a critical biodiversity corridor between the Sumatra Merang Peatland Project (SMPP) and Berbak-Sembilang National Park.
This project is a pilot for community-led models for forest management that can be integrated with larger carbon credit initiatives. The long-term goal is to regenerate the forest and establish a self-sustaining, community-driven conservation effort. Field staff are actively engaged in forest patrols and fostering community participation to ensure the protection of this ecologically significant wetland, contributing to biodiversity conservation and global climate goals.
The Kepayang Community Forest Project is under development for certification under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and Climate, Community, and Biodiversity Standard (CCB).
Experience our project
PeopleCommunity Forest
Benefit-sharing for the People
As the Village Forest Management License holder, the community will receive 75% of the revenue from carbon sales. This benefit-sharing mechanism aims to significantly improve the community's economic stability and provide a strong incentive for continued participation in sustainable forest management practices.
Beyond economic benefits, the project will also focus on improving the community’s overall well-being by enhancing sustainable livelihoods through education and health programs, ensuring a holistic approach to development that supports long-term resilience and growth.
Livelihood and Infrastructure Support
The Kepayang Community Forest Project aims to elevate the local economy, which relies heavily on agroforestry, particularly rubber cultivation. The project is designed to improve sustainable rubber farming practices by providing training on environmentally friendly techniques that avoid harmful pesticides and introduce rubber species adapted to peatland conditions. By focusing on non-destructive pest control, the project seeks to minimize the negative impacts on both the ecosystem and human health, ensuring the long-term productivity of rubber cultivation.
To further support economic development, the project will establish and empower village-owned enterprises (Bumdes) to manage rubber trade and diversify income sources. This initiative strengthens the institutional capacity of the Bumdes, enhancing operational practices and fostering sustainable management of rubber as a commodity and other alternative livelihood activities.
Other project initiatives in place also offer continuous learning opportunities for both children and adults, promote local food sourcing, provide training for craftsmen/women, and support community health programs. The construction of household rainwater catchment systems, co-financed by the project, addresses the community’s need for clean water.