Working Exchange Fellowship: Fazrin Rahmadani, Indonesia

Eugene birdwatchers invited Fazrin for an early morning outing.
From left to right: Dennis Arendt, George Grier, Larry McQueen, Fazrin Rahmadani, Paul Sherrell, and Kit Larsen.

In March 2006, Fazrin Rahmadani traveled from the rainforests of Borneo`s East Kalimantan to participate in a two-week Working Exchange Fellowship at E-LAW U.S. Fazrin is a forester with the Balikpapan office of the Institut Hukum Sumberdaya Alam. He works to protect critical habitat of the endangered orangutan and other forest species.

In addition to conducting forest surveys, Fazrin works to strengthen forest management policies and educates communities about ways to reduce fire danger. According to Fazrin, three hectares of East Kalimantan forest were lost every minute in 2003, due to illegal logging.

E-LAW U.S. arranged for Fazrin to meet with local forestry and law experts to learn more about how Oregonians protect Pacific Northwest forests. E-LAW U.S. thanks Doug Heiken of the Oregon Natural Resources Council; attorneys Jeff Kent and Travis Ahner; Tim Ingalsbee of Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics and Ecology; Pete Frost and Charlie Tebbutt of the Western Environmental Law Center; Kate Skillman; and attorney Dan Stotter. E-LAW U.S. also thanks Ken Meyer and Jane Engert for their gift to E-LAW U.S. on behalf of the late Virginia Webbert, to support work in Indonesia.