Hermas Rintik Maring & Cendera Rizky

Kapuas Hulu (25/07)- As one of the efforts to develop the Community-Based Tourism (CBT) program in Kapuas Hulu, WWF-Indonesia and WWF Germany established a partnership with a German tour operator, Oneworld Reisen Mit Sinnen and a local CBT organization, KOMPAKH. This synergy was realized with the visit of a number of German tourists to Kapuas Hulu from 8 July to 18 July 2011. In addition to inviting the trip participants to witness the authenticity of the tropical rainforest directly, on that occasion, WWF also socialized several conservation and community empowerment programs carried out in the region.

KOMPAKH and Oneworld's partnership began in 2008 with an agreement that Oneworld would promote and market KOMPAKH's products and schedule a minimum of 8 and maximum of 15 group tours 4 times a year. This initial program used Sabah as the entry point (Gate way) with a total of 7 days in Kapuas Hulu.

The initial program used Sabah as the entry point (Gate way) with 7 days in Kapuas Hulu. However, over a period of 2 years only 5 trips could be made. As a solution, in 2010 the program was evaluated and resulted in a new agreement that established Jakarta as the gateway. Starting in 2011 the new program focused more on Kapuas Hulu with a schedule of 3 times a year and the visit time became 11 days Kapuas Hulu and at the end of the visit, participants tour will enjoy the beach in Sarawak region for 2 days.

The group that arrived on July 8, 2011 was the first to join the new program. Ideally the program starts from Pontianak to Putussibau, staying at Betang Baligundi or Betang Sauwe if Baligundi is in mourning. The trip continues to Empangau to enjoy the panoramic view of Empangau lake and see lake protection activities by the local community and WWF-Indonesia programs in this place.

The experience of observing Orangutans and seeing WWF-Indonesia programs in Teluk Aur was the next activity. Soft Adventure Trail) so it is still possible for the participants, who are on average 40-60 years old, to follow. Upon returning from their "adventure" in the Borneo jungle, participants will visit the WWF office for a presentation on WWF's activities in Kapuas Hulu.

However, because the flight from Pontianak to Putussibau changed and the schedule agreed with Oneworld did not match, this time the tour followed an alternative route. The trip started from Pontianak to Sintang using Kalstar flight. After staying in Sintang for one night, in the morning they took a City Tour around Sintang and visited Baning Tourism Forest. The participants then spent the night at Rumah Betang Ensaid Panjang. At this Betang, the group was welcomed with traditional Dayak Village rituals.

The next day the group departed for Semitau by chartered bus and continued by catered speedboat to Empangau. In this village, they stayed at the Empangau tourist lodge and enjoyed an evening by the protected lake.

In the morning, they traveled to Teluk Aur, where they observed orangutans, planted orangutan food trees, and discussed with the community about their activities with WWF. After lunch, they traveled by speedboat to Putussibau and stayed overnight in Putussibau. The next day travel to Matalunai and continue trekking in the wilds of Borneo to Na. Hovat. Arriving at Na. Hovat the team went straight to Putussibau and stayed two nights to get a full picture of Putussibau city and WWF programs. After meeting with the WWF team at the WWF office, a city tour and farewell dinner were held. On day 10 the group returned to Sintang and the next day transferred from Entikong to Kuching.