Jakarta. Tropical Forest Conservation Act Kalimantan, known as TFCA Kalimantan, a cooperation program between the Indonesian government and the United States government, in partnership with the Nature Conservancy and Yayasan World Wide Fund for Nature – Indonesia, approved grants worth $3.3 million in total to local Indonesian NGOs, the US Embassy said in a statement on Wednesday (14/12).

The TCFA Kalimantan has picked 14 qualified NGOs, including Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI) and Yayasan Titian Lestari, to receive grants to fund conservation activities for tropical forests, natural resources protection and livelihoods improvement in East, West and Central Kalimantan.

“The United States is proud to work with Indonesia and our partners to conserve some of the world’s most diverse tropical rain forest through a debt-for-nature swap. Protecting the forest helps conserve the world’s rich biodiversity, and preserves the ability of forests to sustain livelihoods for local residents,” acting Deputy Chief of Mission Mark Clark said in the statement.

Areas of focus include community development, conflict resolution in forest management and ecotourism.

The grants will also support conservation efforts of near-extinct animals in Kalimantan, including rhinoceros, Irrawaddy dolphins and orangutans.

Since 2009, Indonesia has worked with the United States to support its forest conservation efforts.

Under three TFCA deals, Indonesia’s debt payments are reduced in exchange for activities that conserve tropical forests in Sumatra and Kalimantan. The TFCA Kalimantan is administered by the Kehati Foundation.