Menyapa-Lesan Initiative: Connecting Cacao Production with Orangutan Conservation in Borneo
What is the main objective of the project?
The project aims to link orangutan conservation with sustainable cocoa production in the Menyapa-Lesan landscape in East Kalimantan. By improving cocoa quality, yields and market access, it creates sustainable livelihoods for Dayak communities while reducing pressure on forests and protecting critical orangutan habitat.
«This project shows how cocoa becomes a real reason to protect the forest. As it’s working directly with Dayak communities and the Berau government, we link better cocoa quality and market access with orangutan conservation at the landscape level. Seeing livelihoods improve while forests stay standing and knowing that cocoa meets traceability, EUDR, and climate goals, shows that conservation, policy and business can truly move forward together.»
How will the project contribute to sustainable cocoa production?
The project promotes cocoa agroforestry as a non-timber forest product, improving incomes while preventing deforestation. It strengthens living income, transparency and traceability, EUDR compliance, gender inclusion and climate-friendly production, directly contributing to SWISSCO Roadmap 2030 targets.
What is innovative about this project?
The project innovatively combines wildlife conservation with the cocoa value chain development at the landscape level. Cocoa becomes an economic incentive for forest protection. New elements include market-oriented conservation, true cost accounting, community-led agroforestry and linking conservation outcomes directly to premium cocoa markets.
Organisations involved
