Following the successful collaboration on the sustainable use of sugar palm trees, the Community Development Division at Samboja Lestari has expanded a similar initiative through a partnership focused on the utilization of rubber trees within the Samboja Lestari area. This program forms part of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation’s (BOS Foundation) ongoing commitment to strengthening community livelihoods while safeguarding environmental sustainability.
The rubber trees involved in this collaboration were originally planted by local communities long before the BOS Foundation acquired and began managing the Samboja Lestari area. As such, the utilization of these rubber trees is carried out through a cooperative scheme that places local residents as the primary beneficiaries.
This rubber tree utilization partnership has been running since January 2025 and involves four households from Karya Merdeka Village: Sumantri, Sarwi, Sugianto, and Dulrahman. In total, 418 rubber trees are currently managed by these four community members. The cooperation agreement is valid for one year and is subject to regular evaluation.
After the cooperation agreement was signed, all rubber tapping activities were fully entrusted to the participating tappers. Our team accompanied one of the beneficiaries, Sumantri, to observe the tapping process directly in the field. As an experienced rubber tapper, Sumantri demonstrated the tapping techniques used and shared valuable local knowledge related to rubber tree management.
One important aspect is the seasonal condition of rubber trees. When the leaves dry up and fall, tapping cannot be carried out. Tapping can only resume once new leaves begin to grow, a process that can take up to two months. In practice, tappers distinguish between two types of latex: clean rubber latex and dirty rubber, each of which carries a different market value.
The latex collected from rubber tapping is sold to local collectors at prices ranging from IDR 7,000 to IDR 12,000 per kilogram, depending on latex quality and the exchange rate of the Indonesian rupiah against the US dollar. From a single sale, tappers can earn approximately IDR 3,000,000 to IDR 4,000,000, depending on how frequently tapping is carried out.
All proceeds from latex sales are fully retained by the tappers. The BOS Foundation, as the land and rubber tree owner, does not apply a profit-sharing scheme. However, tappers are required to report their total sales as part of transparency and program evaluation.
Through this rubber tree utilization partnership, the BOS Foundation hopes that participating community members will also play an active role in protecting the Samboja Lestari area from illegal encroachment. This scheme offers a mutually beneficial solution: communities gain access to sustainable sources of income, while the conservation area remains protected.
By directly involving local communities and encouraging mindful resource use, this collaboration not only strengthens relationships between the BOS Foundation and surrounding residents but also represents a concrete step toward inclusive and sustainable landscape management.
Text by: Communications & Community Development Team at Samboja Lestari, East Kalimantan
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