An Intimate Look at Orangutans Protected with Cap and Trade

A pilot project aims to see what forest-based carbon trading will actually look like on the ground. Arlington, Va.-based Rare is studying communities in Indonesia to protect forests, species and people. Specifically they are studying the roughly 80,000 hectares of mostly lowland peat swamp tropical forest in and around the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve that is home to 100 ex-captive orangutans. These amazing creatures are under threat by slash and burn agriculture, oil palm development and illegal logging.

According to Rare, "By successfully demonstrating a model for protecting both the forests and the economic livelihoods of communities in and around the Lamandau River Wildlife Reserve, they hope to create one potentially replicable solution for use worldwide."

Find out more about the Lamandau pilot project.