history

Burung Indonesia was established as a national conservation organisation in 2002 with the official name, Perhimpunan Pelestarian Burung Liar Indonesia (BirdLife Indonesia Association). Previously, in 1992-2002, it was known as BirdLife International-Indonesia Program.

With community support, Burung Indonesia seeks to preserve wild birds in Indonesia and their habitat, and is part of the BirdLife International global partnership.

Burung Indonesia collaborates with the community to develop the capacity of local groups or communities and establish partnerships with them.

In its early years as BirdLife International-Indonesia Program, its focus was to identify Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA), as well as network development and formation of bird watching groups. During this time, several IBAs were also encouraged to become protected areas.

Until now, Burung Indonesia has been active in facilitating increased effectiveness in the management of protected areas, considering that more than half of IBAs are outside the network of protected areas in Indonesia. However, creating safe areas for biodiversity that supports livelihoods is not as easy as changing the status of the area to a protected area. Therefore, Burung Indonesia encourages the management of production natural forest areas through ecosystem restoration.
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Burung Indonesia works through three approaches, conservation at the site level, sustainable management of productive landscapes and restoration of production natural forests.

vision & mission

Burung Indonesia has a vision to become the leading bird conservation organisation in Indonesia, and with the support of the Indonesian community, it seeks to preserve all types of birds and their habitat. It's mission:
  • Maintain the diversity of Indonesian birds and their habitat.
  • Cooperate with the community to achieve sustainable development.
  • Trying to build appreciation, understanding, caring, and love for birds and the environment.

the landscape

The Mbeliling landscape is an expanse of nearly 94,000ha located in West Manggarai District on Indonesia’s Flores Island. The core area of Mbeliling landscape consists of locally managed protection forest, located in the highlands. Approximately 36,500ha is semi-evergreen rainforest. The other land uses are mixed agro-forests, which cover just over 34,000ha and are owned by smallholder farmers. Approximately 34,000 people live in 27 villages across the landscape, making their livelihoods from agroforestry, rice crops, and animal husbandry. Commodities produced from the agro-forests include candlenut, coffee, cocoa, clove, and cashew nut, while rice and other food crops are produced mainly for household consumption.
Among other activities, Burung Indonesia is working with small-scale teak farmers to build their capacity in sustainable business planning, implementation of the Timber Legality Assurance System in West Manggarai, and training the community in Environmental Service Monitoring.
Picture
Yellow crested cockatoo. Photo: Tri Susanti/Burung Indonesia
Under threat: Yellow-crested cockatoo
Formerly a widespread species across Indonesia’s Wallacea region, the yellow-crested cockatoo Cacatua sulphurea has suffered catastrophic declines in recent years due to large scale poaching for the pet bird trade. Yellow-crested cockatoos are now virtually extinct across much of Sulawesi and adjoining islands. The last remaining populations now occur in the Lesser Sundas, particularly in Timor, Flores and a few other small islands. BirdLife International lists the species as Critically Endangered, in view of its rapid decline and small global population.
Source: BirdLife International