BPKEL - Badan Pengelola Kawasan Ecosystem Leuser

This is the Aceh Government Agency responsible for the Leuser Ecosystem from the mountains to the sea.  The structure is laid out below, but we are reluctant to provide actual names or photographs of people as they are still being targetted with death threats by the loggers.

BPKEL is led by a Head - effectively a chief executive office with some of the traits of a chairman.  This position is held by Fauzan Azima.  Fauzan was one of the top generals in GAM and his area of command covered a lot of the Leuser Ecosystem. Originally he was a journalist and even in the forest he used to send dispatches out to various newspapers extolling the importance of protecting Aceh's forests.

He is supported by six coordinators in the following disciplines - Conservation and Restoration, Finance and Administration, Law Enforcement, Permitting and Law, Sustainable Utilisation.

Below this level several important positions  - 2 for Geographic Information System, one Conservation Manager, one Wildlife Manager, an accountant and an internal auditor. Soon we will have one spokesperson/public relations officer, and one full time legal expert.

BPKEL has 50 field staff on its payroll, and an additional 70 people that it can mobilise at short notice to undertake urgent field monitoring, and support for law enforcement operations. Furthermore BPKEL can tap into some 100 volunteers that support its work.


Force for the Forest is a not for profit organisation started by Rex Sumner and Philip Chubb, both of whom have long standing connections with Indonesia, to help support the team at BPKEL in Indonesia who manage the Leuser Ecosystem - the most successful conservation of tropical rainforest and large mammals.

The long term aim is to ensure BPKEL is self-sufficient and to take the lessons learnt in Aceh to rainforest throughout the world.

We are unable to be a Charity, because the regulations governing charities forbid the funding of Government Agencies (our current understanding currently being confirmed by the Charities Commission) - and the realities of succesful conservation are that the conservation enforcement must be undertaken by a local agency.

This means that donations to Force for the Forest are not tax deductible.  Sorry, but we don't make the rules....

Force for the Forest is run by volunteers using donated office space.  The only current costs are obligatory ones and our first marketing push will be by viral marketing (free) and any free exposure we can get, though we are planning a direct marketing campaign using experienced and succesful professionals who are donating part of their time.  This means that the vast majority of donations goes directly to where it is needed, at least 95%.

Officers

Rex Sumner, founder and Executive Officer, was born in Indonesia - his father worked for BAT, and has spent twenty years living and working there.  He used to go to Leuser with Mike Griffiths in the early 80's to photograph the wildlife and has a lifelong interest in reptiles and conservation.  He was country manager for Casalee and later worked for the British Government in Jakarta before returning to UK to work in marketing where he runs several companies.  He speaks Indonesian and knows how the system works.

Philip Chubb, founder and Chairman, is a retired Engineer whose wife comes from Medan in North Sumatra.  He has spent many years there helping in various family business while continuing his engineering career.  Now retired to East Anglia, he is a Rotarian, amateur pilot and supporter of youth sail training with the Excelsior Trust.

Board Members

Peter Sage: International Entrepreneur and Businessman and CEO of Space Energy Inc, Pete serves on the board of INSEAD and is the Global Ambassador for CEO.  An accomplished fundraiser and charismatic speaker, he brings a special dynamism to FFF.

Nigel Gearing: leading publisher of Furniture magazines in the UK and Furniture Export Advisor to the Thai Government, Nigel also works with conservationists in the UK particularly on wood issues.

Alex Park: Chartered Civil Engineer, specialising in Transport Planning.
Worked in 20+ countries, mainly in the developing world.  Created his own International consultancy providing technical assistance to central and local governments in the fields of transport police, planning and institutional development.  Won and successfully implemented many IBRD projects in 9 cities in Indonesia over 15 years. Believes that Social Policy, not traffic demand, should drive transport infrastructure/services provision. Has interesting kampong/squatter improvement experience in Asia, Africa and Europe. 

 

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