An ulama present communities’ action plan.

This project aims to conserve critically endangered, endemic species and their rainforest habitats in Sumatra through an innovative approach to community outreach that incorporates the importance of religious beliefs towards nature conservation. Local religious and traditional leaders in Sumatra have a far-reaching influence on the daily lives of a large number of people. Training and support will therefore be provided to these leaders by conservationists to use the Islamic principles on biodiversity conservation to promote sustainable natural resources management in West Sumatra. Religion has a strong influence on daily life and within Islamic philosophy there are several key principles that underpin nature conservation in this religion. This presents a unique opportunity to work with Islamic leaders to promote conservation of natural resources across Indonesia according to several principles (Tawheed, Khalifah, Rahmatan lil allamin and Fitrah) that are written in the Al-Qur'an (Muslim holy book).

Group photo of first training.

These principles outline the human role in conserving natural resources that are both created and owned by Allah. Preliminary discussions with Islamic scholars in both Indonesia and England have identified the potential of Islamic to be highly effective in conserving natural resources. Likewise, there is also a need in Indonesia for Islam to engage more fully in conservation of the natural world.

The objective of the project include:

1) Develop a working group of key Islamic leaders and conservationists to promote teachings of religion and nature conservation;

2) Identify Islamic teaching and connections with nature conservation;

3) Strengthen the capacity of religious and conservation leaders to promote nature conservation under the principles of Islam;

4) Raise local community awareness about teaching of Islam and nature conservation across West Sumatra province;

5) Disseminate wildlife, threat and community outreach information to assist local government decision-makers prioritize conservation resources;

6) Monitor and evaluate project results and effectiveness.

This project has great potential to be replicated across Indonesia because it will provide highly influential religious teachers with the training and materials they need to help them deliver strong nature conservation messages. Through their daily teachings, these leaders effect the actions and everyday life within their community. This project therefore has the capacity to reach out to numerous stakeholders who have previously been uninvolved in nature conservation and engage with them in Islamic and environmental teachings.