Conservation benefit: Support of the protection of 7,414 acres of rainforest and savannah for a minimum of 10 years
Community benefit: Freshwater system
Sumba Island is one of a chain of islands in the Lesser Sundas, a dry region of Eastern Indonesia nestled in the Wallacea bioregion where Australian and Asian fauna overlap. The condition of Sumba’s forest has degraded alarmingly from coverage of about 50 percent of the island in 1927 to less than seven percent by 2002. Today, the remaining forest consists of only five fragments that are greater than 6,178 acres each, and all of which are located in Manupeu Tanadaru National Park. This forest contains thick stands of rare sandalwood. It is the last remaining habitat for a number of different endemic frog, butterfly, and reptile species and is home to eight endemic bird species.
A number of villages border the national park, including Umbu Langang, a farming village of approximately 750 people. In the dry season, the nearest freshwater source is located more than a mile from the village. In 2003, the villagers agreed not to expand their farms into the national park and are further willing to commit to protecting approximately 5,931 acres of forest and 1,483 acres of mixed savannah as a no-take area for a minimum of ten years in exchange for a critically needed freshwater system.Full or partial funding for this project provided by
- December 2011
- Pak Amos, the project leader from the fresh water project in Umbu Langang Village, reports that the system is in good condition, and adds that the community of Umbu Langang has been greatly helped...
- January 2011
- The water pipes in the village of Umbu Langang are still in good condition and clean water flows smoothly. Rainfall in the last wet season caused flooding in some streams, which were thick with...
- June 2010
- Field representative Arnaz Mehta reports that there are 100 women involved in the "living kitchen" program who are farming small plots of land around their homes adjacent to the fresh water pipes....
- August 2009
- The project was completed and with extra funds remaining Seacology approved a village proposal for a “living kitchen” to grow vegetables.
- June 2009
- As of May 2009, five water tanks were built and over 2,400 meters of pipe installed. Seventeen water stations (t-pipes) were erected throughout the village, as well as an additional one in Haronja...
- January 2009
- The project began in September 2008 and is scheduled to run for about six months.