Mobile Education & Conservation Unit (MECU) Program
In addition to providing education and training to villagers in areas adjacent to Gunung Leuser National Park, the MECU Program provides transport of young trees and supplies and a strategy to plant diverse species in degraded forest areas within Gunung Leuser National Park. OURF and CPOI-Sumut have received permission by the Park authority to conduct tree-planting in regions in and around the national park.
Additionally, the MECU Team works with local famers in villages to reduce conflict with ape populations in adjacent forest habitat by enhancing agro-forestry techniques that improve productivity on existing farm and community forestland including creation of recycling/waste management/composting projects; soil quality enhancement, tree-planting, and developing appropriate permaculture methods.
The MECU is a cooperative venture with funding from US Fish and Wildlife, The Orangutan Project, Excelso, and OURF. CPOI-Sumut also coordinates with other NGOs in the region and with FOKUS. The MECU vehicle, a Ford Ranger 4x4 began operations in March 2011. CPOI-Sumut conducts their field work in various villages in the Bohorok region.