Restoring Rhino Habitat in Way Kambas National Park

Editorial Note: The following blog article was written by staff of the Indonesian Rhino Initiative, an IRF partner organization.

Once, this place was silent. A fire had swept through the forest, leaving only ashes where once rhinos and other wildlife roamed. The land was blackened, the trees gone and the future seemed uncertain. Yet, from that loss, a seed of hope began to grow. 

We believed the forest could live again — and that belief became the start of a long journey of restoration. 

We could not do it alone. Together with communities surrounding the national park, forest farmer groups, the Way Kambas National Park Authority and the generosity of donors, we began the process of healing the land. 

Local farmers played a central role. They started by raising seedlings in community nurseries, and these small, fragile plants that held the promise of tomorrow. We purchased these seedlings and worked hand in hand with farmers to plant them across the restoration zone. 

Every stage mattered: the planting, the nurturing, the maintenance. Each act was a commitment, not just to the forest, but to the rhinos and other wildlife whose survival depends on it. 

Restoring More Than Just Trees

Restoration is not only about planting — it is also about protecting. Together with the community, we guard against forest fires, ensuring what we plant today does not vanish tomorrow. We also support villagers in reducing negative encounters with wild elephants, creating safer spaces for both people and wildlife. 

The work is not easy. It requires long days under the sun, patient care for every seedling and constant vigilance against threats. But it is in this effort that a deeper bond is formed between people, the land and wildlife. 

Most importantly, these trees provide food for the Sumatran rhinos that still live hidden within the forest. Slowly, the land is becoming a home again — not just for rhinos, but for countless other species that thrive when the forest thrives. 

Every drop of sweat, every seedling planted and every tree that now stands tall is proof of what can be achieved when people work hand in hand with nature. And it is proof that humans, forests and wildlife can live in balance. 

This is not just a story about planting trees. It is a story about resilience, community and the shared responsibility of protecting life itself.