Human-orangutan conflict and hunting are thought to pose a serious threat to orangutan existence in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo. No data existed prior to the present study to substantiate these threats. We investigated the rates, spatial distribution and causes of conflict and hunting through an interview-based survey in the orangutan's range in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Between April 2008 and September 2009, we interviewed 6983 respondents in 687 villages to obtain socio-economic information, assess knowledge of local wildlife in general and orangutan encounters specifically, and to query respondents about their knowledge on orangutan conflicts and killing, and relevant laws. This survey revealed estimated killing rates of between 750 and 1800 animals killed in the last year, and between 1950 and 3100 animals killed per year on average within the lifetime of the survey respondents. These killing rates are higher than previously thought and are high enough to pose a serious threat to the continued existence of orangutans in Kalimantan. Importantly, the study contributes to our understanding of the spatial variation in threats, and the underlying causes of those threats, which can be used to facilitate the development of targeted conservation management.

Human-orangutan conflict and hunting are thought to pose a serious threat to orangutan existence in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo. No data existed prior to the present study to substantiate these threats. We investigated the rates, spatial distribution and causes of conflict and hunting through an interview-based survey in the orangutan's range in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Between April 2008 and September 2009, we interviewed 6983 respondents in 687 villages to obtain socio-economic information, assess knowledge of local wildlife in general and orangutan encounters specifically, and to query respondents about their knowledge on orangutan conflicts and killing, and relevant laws. This survey revealed estimated killing rates of between 630 and 1357 animals killed in the last year, and between 2383 and 3882 animals killed per year on average within the lifetime of the survey respondents. These killing rates are higher than previously thought and are high enough to pose a serious threat to the continued existence of orangutans in Kalimantan. Importantly, the study contributes to our understanding of the spatial variation in threats, and the underlying causes of those threats, which can be used to facilitate the development of targeted conservation management.

Suku Dayak Iban Desa Mensiau merupakan masyarakat asli Kalimantan Barat yang tinggal di daerah penyangga kawasan konservasi, yaitu Taman Nasional Betung Kerihun. Masyarakat tersebut memanfaatkan sumber daya hutan, baik di dalam maupun luar kawasan konservasi untuk memenuhi kebutuhan hidup sehari-hari. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis pemanfaatan tumbuhan lokal sebagai bahan pangan oleh suku Dayak Iban Desa Mensiau. Penelitian dilakukan dengan metode wawancara secara mendalam terhadap 40 orang (10%) penduduk Desa Mensiau. Pengetahuan masyarakat mengenai tumbuhan lokal yang dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan pangan diwariskan secara turun-temurun. Terdapat 17 jenis tumbuhan lokal yang dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan makanan. Tumbuhan pantu atau ransa (Astrocaryum sp.) paling banyak dimanfaatkan sebagai makanan. Daun, batang muda atau umbut, dan tunas merupakan bagian tumbuhan yang sering dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan makanan dan sering diolah dengan cara dimasak sesuai dengan selera. Tumbuhan lokal yang dapat dikonsumsi dipercaya memiliki khasiat sebagai obat sakit perut dan hipertensi. Tumbuh-tumbuhan lokal tersebut dilestarikan oleh suku Dayak Iban Desa Mensiau dengan cara dibudidayakan, terutama jenis sawi hutan, pantu atau ransa, sagu, dan melinjo. Konservasi jenis tumbuhan lokal dan kearifan lokal harus terus dikolaborasikan dan dijaga dalam meningkatkan ketahanan pangan di Indonesia.

Human-orangutan conflict and hunting are thought to pose a serious threat to orangutan existence in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo. No data existed prior to the present study to substantiate these threats. We investigated the rates, spatial distribution and causes of conflict and hunting through an interview-based survey in the orangutan's range in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Between April 2008 and September 2009, we interviewed 6983 respondents in 687 villages to obtain socio-economic information, assess knowledge of local wildlife in general and orangutan encounters specifically, and to query respondents about their knowledge on orangutan conflicts and killing, and relevant laws. This survey revealed estimated killing rates of between 630 and 1357 animals killed in the last year, and between 2383 and 3882 animals killed per year on average within the lifetime of the survey respondents. These killing rates are higher than previously thought and are high enough to pose a serious threat to the continued existence of orangutans in Kalimantan. Importantly, the study contributes to our understanding of the spatial variation in threats, and the underlying causes of those threats, which can be used to facilitate the development of targeted conservation management.

Suku Dayak Iban Desa Mensiau merupakan masyarakat asli Kalimantan Barat yang tinggal di daerah penyangga kawasan konservasi, yaitu Taman Nasional Betung Kerihun. Masyarakat tersebut memanfaatkan sumber daya hutan, baik di dalam maupun luar kawasan konservasi untuk memenuhi kebutuhan hidup sehari-hari. Penelitian ini bertujuan menganalisis pemanfaatan tumbuhan lokal sebagai bahan pangan oleh suku Dayak Iban Desa Mensiau. Penelitian dilakukan dengan metode wawancara secara mendalam terhadap 40 orang (10%) penduduk Desa Mensiau. Pengetahuan masyarakat mengenai tumbuhan lokal yang dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan pangan diwariskan secara turun-temurun. Terdapat 17 jenis tumbuhan lokal yang dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan makanan. Tumbuhan pantu atau ransa (Astrocaryum sp.) paling banyak dimanfaatkan sebagai makanan. Daun, batang muda atau umbut, dan tunas merupakan bagian tumbuhan yang sering dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan makanan dan sering diolah dengan cara dimasak sesuai dengan selera. Tumbuhan lokal yang dapat dikonsumsi dipercaya memiliki khasiat sebagai obat sakit perut dan hipertensi. Tumbuh-tumbuhan lokal tersebut dilestarikan oleh suku Dayak Iban Desa Mensiau dengan cara dibudidayakan, terutama jenis sawi hutan, pantu atau ransa, sagu, dan melinjo. Konservasi jenis tumbuhan lokal dan kearifan lokal harus terus dikolaborasikan dan dijaga dalam meningkatkan ketahanan pangan di Indonesia.