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SafeNest Indonesia

Rainforests in Central and East Java, Asia

The number of songbird species in Indonesia has been declining for many years, largely due to the illegal bird trade. As a result, many forest areas have now fallen silent.

In 2023, we developed a partnership with local organisations working directly with local communities. Together, we launched an ambitious five-year project to tackle the problem. 

 

How the project started

After several years of dialogue, the project received forward-thinking support from the Hempel Foundation. This funding enabled the project to get fully underway in January 2024.

The SafeNest project was developed in part as a follow-up to EAZA’s Silent Forest campaign. The campaign ran from 2017 to 2019, and Copenhagen Zoo supported it from the outset. Since then, we have actively raised awareness of the issue in Tropenzoo. In fact, our staff are experts in the field, with extensive knowledge of the illegal songbird trade, songbirds in general and conservation work in the region.

From the beginning, the ambition of the SafeNest project has been to contribute directly to the conservation of a handful of species that are closest to extinction. These species serve as flagship species for unique habitats with exceptionally high biodiversity.

What we are working on right now

Copenhagen Zoo addresses the challenges facing songbirds in Southeast Asia through the SafeNest project.

We engage and empower local communities in several villages near important natural areas to take an active role in protecting their local environment and endangered songbirds. Among other initiatives, we run workshops to develop sustainable alternatives, carry out awareness campaigns and engage in dialogue with poachers, some of whom now actively help protect their local natural areas.

In addition, we are implementing a conservation plan for the black-winged starling in Baluran National Park and near Alas Purwo National Park – the last areas where the species is found.

The future of the project

We also aim to support the citizen science project ‘Indonesian Bird Atlas’ and develop partnerships with Indonesian universities in the fields of conservation and species ecology. This will give more Indonesian scientists greater opportunities to have their work published and recognised.

Our other projects

At Copenhagen Zoo, we are actively involved in conservation projects around the world. Which project would you like to explore next?