Camp Harapan has recently changed its water supply. The lake by the camp, the previous water source, had become cloudy. It got worse in the rainy season. Water is now being taken from another small lake close to camp. The water from this source is clear. The lake is sheltered by dense forest. A pump feeds a kilometre-long pipe to a new water tank holding 15,000 litres. The water is then distributed to buildings around the camp. This will help to maintain an acceptable living environment for the 200 staff using the camp. The water from the old source is used for watering seedlings and washing vehicles. This change is part of bigger changes to the camp. Over the next few months we will replace accommodation and offices. We'll keep you updated on the changes.
Harapan’s patrol wardens, all local community members, are one of our greatest assets. In the field all day, every day, they have the most contact with the forest’s wildlife. Discovering what they encounter is vital for learning how wildlife uses the forest. The wardens were recently trained to record their sightings in a standardised way. Their findings can now be collated, and contribute to our overall research activity. The recording system is called MIST, an international standard. It will allow Harapan results to be compared against other conservation areas throughout the world. The wardens also gained a skill that builds their professional development.