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This campaign has been created by James Stevens on behalf of Pungky Nanda Pratama. All the words you read here are Pungky’s own. Due to platform limitations in Indonesia, all funds collected are received by James and then forwarded directly to Pungky. James and Pungky have shared a close friendship since James first visited Sumatra in 2018.
Wildlife Conservation Support
Introduction
This crowdfunder has been created to support Pungky Nanda Pratama, a dedicated conservationist working tirelessly to protect endangered wildlife and fragile ecosystems in Sumatra and Java. Despite incredible successes in documenting species like the Clouded Leopard and Malayan Tapir, Pungky’s work relies entirely on donations. This supports essential tools like camera traps, environmental education, and habitat restoration. With your help, we can expand efforts to new, unexplored regions, safeguarding threatened species and empowering local communities to protect their natural heritage.
Background
Sumatra: A Global Biodiversity Hotspot
Globally recognised as a mega biodiversity hotspot, Sumatra is home to an incredible array of flora and fauna. Millions of plant and animal species thrive in its diverse and fragile ecosystems, with some species found only on smaller islands and the main island of Sumatra. Despite this richness, many areas labeled as Nature Reserves or Wildlife Reserves remain largely unexplored and undocumented, leaving them vulnerable to logging. Tragically, these unprotected regions are slowly disappearing due to land conversion and illegal activities, driving local extinctions of many species.
About Pungky
My name is Pungky Nanda Pratama, and I am a passionate naturalist, environmentalist, conservationist, and educator. I firmly believe in educating younger generations who live in areas heavily affected by deforestation and human-wildlife conflict. My focus is on protecting local biodiversity and habitats in South Sumatra, Indonesia, by working closely with local conservation agencies, government bodies, and village communities to prevent man-made destruction and local extinction of wildlife.
I oversee multiple ongoing projects, all driven by my commitment to conservation. I do this work without payment because I believe it is crucial for the future of our natural world. However, in order to continue this important work, I need support and funding.
Here are the stories of the projects I am working on and the importance they have.
Our Project: Protecting Isau-Isau Nature Reserve
In 2018, we began our Camera Trap Project in the Isau-Isau Nature Reserve, which spans across Lahat Regency and Muara Enim Regency. It is recognised as one of the largest nature reserves in South Sumatra, covering an area of 16,742.92 hectares.
Through our work, we have successfully documented Endangered and Critically Endangered species that still survive in the reserve, including:
• Clouded Leopard
• Marbled Cat
• Malayan Tapir
• Asiatic Wild Dog (Dhole)
• Sun Bear
• and many more…
We use data from our camera traps as the main source of evidence to promote our work, raising awareness and providing scientific proof of these species’ existence. Beyond documentation, we are committed to:
• Educating the next generation about conservation
• Supporting local communities
• Collaborating with government agencies
• Sharing our findings with the world
Through this work we aim to gain further protection to the wildlife reserve whilst ensuring local communities can thrive and work in harmony with nature.
Project Development
We have a bold mission: to expand our conservation efforts beyond the Isau-Isau Wildlife Reserve in South Sumatra. Our plan is to extend our project to two new locations that have received little attention and minimal scientific study, located in two different provinces:
1. Bengkulu Province (Sumatra Island)
Our work will focus on the Bukit Daun Nature Reserve in the Rejang Lebong District, a habitat famously known for the largest flower in the world, Rafflesia arnoldii, and Amorphophallus. This area is also home to endangered species such as:
• Sunda Clouded Leopard (Neofelis diardii)
• Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus)
• Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus)
Our primary focus will be on these three species while also searching for evidence of endemic species within the reserve. Sadly, this location faces serious threats from land encroachment and illegal hunting, further endangering its wildlife.
We plan to protect local species and their habitats while also supporting the local community by establishing sustainable ecotourism, providing them with direct economic benefits linked to conservation.
2. Central Java Province (Java Island)
Our project will extend to the Menoreh Mountain Range in Yogyakarta Province. Although heavily impacted by human activities for decades, this mountain range still holds rich biodiversity, including:
• Javan Warty Pig (Sus verrucosus) — Critically Endangered
• Javan Leopard (Panthera pardus melas) — Critically Endangered
We will collaborate with local conservationists to search for new populations of these species and work together to protect their remaining habitats.
Goals & Objectives
Our Goals:
1. Raise awareness of the critical biodiversity of Sumatra and Java, both locally and globally.
2. Discover new populations of endangered species, including the Sumatran Tiger, Clouded Leopard, Javan Leopard, and Javan Warty Pig (all IUCN-registered as Critically Endangered).
3. Capture photo and video evidence of the top six targeted species in Sumatra and the top two species in Java.
4. Obtain new photographic evidence of elusive species beyond our main targets.
5. Garner local and global attention from the public and the conservation industry.
6. Identify the threats that are driving the decline of animal populations in these critical areas.
Our Objectives:
- Promote Local Biodiversity and elevate the protection status of unstudied and unprotected areas in Sumatra and Java.
- Use a scientific approach combined with local knowledge to bring these ecosystems to the national and global stage.
Problems and Project Impact (Achievement)
Prior to our work in Isau-Isau Wildlife Reserve, there were many problems. Since our project begun in 2018 we have made a positive impact to the local biodiversity, habitat and people. We are immensely proud of what we have achieved, but the work isn't over, there are many challenges left to face.
Project Needs
We are very optimistic that we could expand our projects in other places and work together with local people and conservationist. Here's what we need:
Fund Allocation Diagram
The diagram below shows the percentages all of the budget that we will spend for new camera traps, financial support for local people and education outreach.
Total budget for one year is £6,044. This covers £3,844 for Environmental Education, £ 1,100 for the Camera Trap Project in Sumatra and Java and £1,100 for Flora Conservation Program in Sumatra.
Expected Output and Outcomes
The table below explained the expected output and expected outcomes after the project and data analysis.
Related Documents
Podcast: Mongabay Explores Sumatra: Solutions and optimism that drive conservation
Conservation effort to safe endemic orchids in South Sumatra
Collaborative wildlife conservation effort in Isau-Isau Wildlife Reserve with Conservation Agency of South Sumatra and Ministry of Environment and Forestry
An episode "A conservationist working to save Sumatra's rainforest | Indonesia Special" featuring Pungky
James and Pungky
