January 05, 2026
Across the Restorasi Ekosistem Riau (RER) landscape, the work of forest protection and restoration relies on the synergy of many hands and disciplines. Some roles involve monitoring wildlife in the field, while others focus on working with local communities, developing sustainable livelihoods, or protecting peatland hydrology.
Considering the various areas that must be coordinated, strategic planning plays a critical role in keeping these efforts aligned, scalable, and sustainable. One of the key people guiding this work is Wawan Gunawan, RER’s Planning & Government Relations Manager, who has been part of the initiative for almost a decade.
In this article, we take a closer look at his story: from the early days, growing up near one of Indonesia’s most precious national parks; to his current role in shaping the partnerships that support long-term ecosystem restoration in Riau.
A Conservation Career Built from the Ground Up
Wawan’s connection to nature began early. He grew up near Ujung Kulon National Park in Banten, where forests were part of daily life.
“I’ve always had an emotional connection to the forest,” says Wawan, reminiscing about his home village, situated next to the boundaries of Ujung Kulon. “So when I learned that RER was hiring, I applied immediately. I wanted to return to working with natural forests.”
Before working at RER, Wawan studied Forestry at IPB University, one of Indonesia’s leading institutions in environmental science.
His professional career began in 2002, when he entered the Forester Training Program at PT RAPP. Over the next decade, he took on several planning and operational leadership roles:
This mix of technical expertise and field relationships enabled Wawan to develop a wide range of skills, forming a strong foundation for his future role in ecosystem restoration.
Joining RER: A New Approach to Forest Management
Wawan joined RER in 2016, drawn by the initiative’s unique model of restoring peatland and natural forest ecosystems.
He saw restoration as a necessary evolution in forest management. “Restoration is a new paradigm,” he says, pointing to the holistic nature of the RER production-protection model. “Previously, forest licenses focused only on timber production. RER’s approach is different: it focuses on restoring ecosystems and aligning economic, ecological, and social needs.”
This balance is central to his current position. As Planning & Government Relations Manager, he works to ensure that restoration activities support long-term sustainability.
A Role Centered on Collaboration
Although his office is located in the RER headquarters in Pangkalan Kerinci, Wawan’s work extends far beyond the desk. Around half of his time is spent coordinating with:
“No matter how strong our work in the field is,” says Wawan, “if we do not share it with stakeholders, the impact is limited. Conservation cannot happen in isolation.” The role of stakeholders, including the community, government, NGOs, and the private sector, is crucial in conservation; to be successful, all must work together.
Wawan shares a recent example that illustrates the importance of this synergy in action, specifically related to fishermen in the RER area. “Before RER was established,” he explains, “the government and NGOs conducted outreach on the importance of maintaining ecosystem balance.”
By collaborating with the community, they discovered it was common practice for individuals to catch fish by electrocuting and poisoning them, resulting in unstable catches, and certain fish species that had disappeared. Now, the situation has stabilized, and fish populations are rebounding. As Wawan explains, “this is a small but powerful example of how sustainable management of forest resources is closely tied to community prosperity.”
In planning restoration activities, Wawan focuses on aligning two core pillars:
This alignment guides decisions such as where to establish canal blocking, how patrols are deployed, and how community-based agreements are designed.
Challenges in His Role
Like many working in conservation, Wawan is faced by a range of challenges. He says these can be either internal, such as coordinating activities among diverse teams, and external, relating to outreach and collaboration in the surrounding community.
Wawan believes the solution to both challenges is more or less the same in principle: “As long as our solutions are built on a strong foundation, informed by objective data, and conveyed in a proper manner, then we can overcome all problems in our path.”
Why Partnerships Matter to Him
For Wawan, partnerships are more than just helpful or supportive — they are essential to success. As he explains:
“Conservation cannot be done alone. It requires participation from government, organizations and every individual. We protect forests not just for today, but for future generations.”
This approach reflects RER’s long-term mission, where restoration depends on a combination of community involvement, policy alignment, equitable benefits, and collective responsibility.
Wawan Gunawan: Looking Ahead with a Shared Responsibility
Wawan believes everyone has a role in sustaining healthy forests: “Everyone has the right to clean air and a healthy environment, and the responsibility to protect it.”
He encourages simple daily actions, including reducing single-use plastic, saving energy and water, composting household waste, planting trees, and avoiding destructive practices such as burning land or illegal hunting.
These small acts, multiplied across communities, can help maintain balanced ecosystems.
Wawan’s hope is clear, and his message simple: “For the forests that remain, let’s protect them. For those already damaged, let’s restore them.”
He reminds us that the cost of losing forests — including floods, droughts, and economic loss — far outweighs short-term benefits associated with exploitation.
True progress will require shared commitment across government, private sector, NGOs, and local communities.
“Forests are life-support systems. A sustainable future means prosperous communities and healthy forests, together.”
