Borneo conservation program pays villagers to photograph wildlife

In the jungles of Borneo, a conservation program called KehatiKu is incentivizing local villagers to photograph or record wildlife instead of capturing it. Managed by the environmental consultancy Borneo Futures, the initiative operates across nine villages in the Kapuas Hulu district of West Kalimantan province.

Participants, many of whom are small-scale farmers growing crops like rice, cacao, and durian, receive payments based on their observations. Rates range from 5,000 rupiahs (approximately 0.24 euros) for common birds to 130,000 rupiahs (6.37 euros) for endangered orangutans. Highly active observers can earn up to 10 million rupiahs (nearly 490 euros) per month, a sum that significantly exceeds the average income for agricultural workers in the region.

The program serves a dual purpose: it provides a vital supplemental income for families to cover expenses such as university tuition, and it generates essential data regarding wildlife distribution and population trends. By turning former hunters and collectors into conservation contributors, the project aims to shift local habits away from the illegal wildlife trade.