Thanks to the sponsorship of the Aspinall Foundation and the 25Hours Freeride, BTRF was able to donate to the Regency of Malinau 6,000 environmental education manuals for primary school children. The books are adapted for grades 1 through 6 and cover topics relevant to the local environment and landscapes.

A great many thanks to Dominique Perret, his dynamic team and the generous sponsors for making the 2010 edition of the “25 Hours Freeride” once again a special and fun event. For the second year in a row, BTRF stands to benefit from the “25 Hours Freeride” event in Gstaad, Switzerland on January 29-31 when CHF 181,200 were collected. After organizers’ expenses are deducted, BTRF will use the resulting funds to further environmental education in Borneo’s schools and for community development in its project areas.

For more information, visit 25 hours website at: www.25hoursfreeride.ch

Photographs copyright of Daniel Mitchell

To see more photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/a03575/sets/72157623323310560/

In Balikpapan, on December 1st 2009, BTRF’s president, Ms. Marinah Embiricos was a keynote speaker at the National environmental Workshop on the “Regional Initiative in Anticipating Global Warming and Climate Change Mitigation”. Over 200 participants attended the workshop, including the Minister of Environment, the National Council on Climate Change, former state ministers, Regents of East Kalimantan, Member of East Kalimantan’s Parliament, Governors of numerous provinces throughout Indonesia, environment and forestry department representatives, community organizations, NGOs, International Organizations and the private sector. (more…)

Upon the request of a number of farmers living in Malinau District, BTRF and the Balung River Eco-resort organized and financed a trip to the Balung Eco-resort for a week-long training on commodity cultivation, tourism and electricity generation. The training took place at the Balung Eco-resort and the Kebun Rimau plantation from October 10 to 21, 2009 and accommodated a group of 10, comprised of farmers, local NGO representatives and BTRF project staff. (more…)

Statement reinforces sub-national action, desire to forge consensus and enhance effort

Copenhagen, 14 December 2009 – Echoing sub-national unity to fight advancing global climate impacts, governors representing 14 states and provinces today issued a statement urging nations’ support of forestry protocols. The states, including from; Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, and the U.S. jointly endorsed a transnational task force that would forge greater involvement of national governments and the international community to help address forestry related issues in developing climate policy. The provinces of East Kalimantan and West Kalimantan, Indonesia were represented by the President and Founder of the Borneo Tropical Rainforest Foundation (BTRF).

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BTRF has been chosen as a beneficiary of this years 25 hours Freeride event in Gstaad. The 25 hours freeride is the brainchild of BTRF board member, Dominique Perret, who has earned the distinction of being voted ‘Freeride Skier of the Century’. Now in its eighth year, the freeride is a team event that has raised thousands of francs for charity.

This year the proceeds of this inspirational sporting and fun occasion will be shared by two organisations working on behalf of underprivileged children in the developed and developing world respectively:

• Swiss organisation, Just 4 Smiles, which provides sports facilities specifically adapted for the enjoyment of severely handicapped children.
• BTRF, which has developed a special programme to benefit the ‘Children of Malinau’, and thereby promote long-term efforts to preserve the globally important forests in this remote part of Borneo. The ‘Children of Malinau’ programme is linked to a wider ‘BTRF+’ initiative that will also be launched during the 25 Freeride celebrations.

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