Empowering Schools and Communities for Wetland Conservation in Singkil Peat Swamp

Introduction

Singkil Peat Swamp in Aceh is one of Southeast Asia’s most important wetland ecosystems, supporting rich biodiversity including migratory waterbirds, crocodiles, and the Sumatran orangutan. This project was designed to strengthen wetland awareness and local conservation capacity through CEPA (Communication, Education, Participation, and Awareness) activities that actively engage students and community members living around the Singkil landscape. By improving ecological literacy and encouraging local participation, the initiative seeks to nurture long-term stewardship of peatland and wetland ecosystems while supporting sustainable, nature-based livelihoods in the region.

Key Activities and Highlights

Two core activities formed the backbone of the project. An Environmental Education Programme was delivered in a centralized format following post-flood conditions, reaching approximately 400 students from 12 schools through interactive sessions on peatland ecosystems, wildlife, and conservation. In parallel, a three-day Guide Capacity-Building Workshop engaged 10 local youth, combining two days of classroom-based learning with one day of field practice in the wetland area. Participants strengthened skills in environmental interpretation, wildlife observation, guiding ethics, safety awareness, and conservation-based ecotourism.

Through these activities, the project reached more than 400 students, supported by tailored educational modules and conservation posters distributed to participating schools. Ten local youth successfully completed the Guide Capacity-Building Workshop and were formally recognized as community nature guides. A simplified training booklet was also developed to encourage replication and continued learning. Overall, the initiative strengthened collaboration between schools, local stakeholders, and conservation actors, contributing to increased local ownership of peatland conservation efforts. Photo documentation and learning materials have been shared with WLI as reference examples of site-level CEPA implementation.

Next Steps

The next phase will focus on mentoring trained youth guides to conduct regular site interpretation and basic bird observation activities, while exploring partnerships to develop conservation-based ecotourism initiatives in Singkil. PKGB will continue strengthening collaboration with schools, local authorities, and tourism actors to support sustainable, community-led ecotourism aligned with wetland conservation objectives.