A Midnight Message from the Gerbang Barito REDD+ Project
- Wildlife Works
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 12 minutes ago
A story of the formulation of articles of association and bylaws for village forest management units in Gerbang Barito REDD+ Project, written by Erlinda Ekaputri, WW Indonesia Country Director
It was almost midnight when my phone screen lit up. I sighed, thinking, What now? Exhausted from hours of winding roads and bumpy trails to reach a remote village deep in the forest, all I wanted was a few hours of good sleep before another long journey the next day.
But deep down, I knew.
I had made a commitment, to work with communities, to be there when they needed me. And sometimes, that meant being ready 24/7.
I picked up my phone and saw a long message from a man in a village on the other side of the country. His words were a mix of our national language and his local dialect, which I often struggled to fully understand. But his message was clear. He was expressing his heartfelt appreciation for how Wildlife Works had helped his community reach an agreement - one that set clear rules among them.
I paused. Why did it even matter so much to him?
Of course, his gratitude touched me. In that moment, my exhaustion faded. I smiled and quickly texted him back, saying, It was nothing. It was your community’s willingness, your efforts, and your good hearts that made this possible.
But as I typed, a realization struck me.
It wasn’t just an agreement. It wasn’t just a bunch of papers.
My team had told me about the long, difficult process behind it. As they worked through the conversations to strengthen governance structures for potential project management, their discussions uncovered new sources of tension. The heated arguments, the fears of change, the reluctance of some to be held accountable. Different interests clashed, personal stakes ran deep, and every step was a struggle or a triumph. Amidst all that chaos, they finally landed on a confident understanding of the project and a shared vision for their collective future. Reaching the final positive agreement meant something much bigger.
And in that moment, I understood.
Behind every written and signed paper, there are untold stories - stories of struggle, resilience, and courage. Stories of people daring to trust, to dream, and to hope.
Because sometimes, an agreement is more than just words on a page. It is a beacon of light in the darkness.
In our far-from-perfect efforts to protect wildlife and the environment, in the valley of frustration where we are accused of being opportunistic, messages like this remind me why I keep going. They drown out the noise, let doubts scatter like dust in the wind, and reassure me that every morning, I wake up with a purpose, a good reason to live another day.
