At Tentsile, our love for trees and the outdoors runs deep. It’s why we developed tree tents in the first place. But our mission to protect forests goes far beyond our products. That’s why we're very excited to announce our new partnership with the Sumatran Orangutan Society (SOS), an organisation dedicated to protecting, connecting, and rewilding Sumatra's rainforests to ensure a flourishing future for wild orangutans.
SOS: Protecting Orangutans and their Rainforest Homes
SOS has a clear and vital mission: to protect orangutans, their forests and their future. They collaborate with their frontline partners to develop conservation programmes that benefit orangutans, their habitats, and the communities that depend on them.
SOS operates in Sumatra, Indonesia—a biodiversity hotspot and the last remaining habitat for Sumatran and Tapanuli orangutans. These rainforests are some of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, home to not just orangutans, but also Sumatran elephants, tigers, and rhinos. It is the last place on earth where all these species live together.
The pace and pattern of forest loss in Sumatra is leading to fragmented forests, trapping orangutans and other rare species in shrinking islands which are too small to sustain them. Over time, inbreeding will weaken these populations until orangutans disappear from the landscape altogether.
Fewer than 14,000 Sumatran orangutans and 800 Tapanuli orangutans now remain in the wild. Both species are classified as Critically Endangered, with the Tapanuli orangutan the most endangered great ape in the world.
Why We Must Protect Orangutans and Rainforests
Like our wild cousins, we too rely on forests for our survival. Rainforests provide invaluable ecosystem services for local communities and the planet. They act as natural carbon sinks, mitigating climate change and regulating water flow, preventing floods and erosion. They act as the lungs of our planet. By protecting forests, we are protecting a vital resource for all living beings.
Orangutans, as keystone species, are essential for the health and resilience of rainforests. Their ability to disperse seeds and regenerate forests benefits countless other species, including globally threatened animals like tigers, rhinos, and elephants. Protecting orangutans not only safeguards their own survival but also protects the entire biodiversity of the rainforest.
SOS is committed to protecting these invaluable ecosystems. Their holistic approach ensures that forest conservation benefits wildlife, like orangutans, and local communities, creating a sustainable future for all.
This is where Tentsile and SOS’s missions align: in our commitment to protecting trees and forests for the world’s greater good.
Projects That Make a Difference
SOS and their frontline partners empower local communities to become guardians of their forests through collaborative conservation programmes. They support the development of locally-driven solutions that address the unique needs and aspirations of each forest-edge community.
This community-centred approach ensures that orangutan conservation can benefit both people and wildlife for generations to come. Through three key strands of work – protect, connect and rewild – SOS and their partners are working with communities to:
- Rewild Forests: Together with their partners, SOS have rewilded more than 2,000 hectares of forest over the last decade. By 2020, they will have contributed to the regeneration of 10,000 hectares of orangutan habitat.
- Promote Sustainable Development: Supporting agroforestry systems, regenerative farming techniques and sustainable harvesting, to enable forest-edge communities to earn more from sustainable income.
- Support Social Forestry Initatives: Empowering local communities to manage and conserve forest resources. By granting them decision-making authority and access to these resources, this innovative conservation model can support sustainable forest use while improving the livelihoods of local people.
- Construct Canopy Bridges: These are rope structures that allow wildlife to safely cross roads and other human-made barriers. These bridges help maintain genetic diversity and connectivity within populations, promoting the long-term survival of species.
Why Tentsile Supports SOS
We’ve always vehemently maintained that protecting forests is essential for the health of humanity, and indeed all of the flora and fauna on our planet. Our products are designed to help people experience the beauty of forests in a sustainable way.
Yet we recognise that these environments are being threatened. That is why our mantra is the same now as it was back in 2013 when we launched the brand: “If we’re all hanging out in the trees, they can’t chop them down!”.
We’re proud to support SOS in their mission. Their work aligns perfectly with our values and their projects reflect the kind of forest conservation we believe in.
By joining forces, we hope to raise awareness of the critical importance of forest conservation and inspire more people to take action. Every tree matters, and every forest we protect contributes to the survival of not just orangutans but countless other species.
Stay tuned for more updates about SOS’s work. Together, we can make a difference for orangutans, forests, and the future of our planet.
Photo credit - Andrew Walmsley for SOS
