ProFauna

ProFauna
Name	ProFauna
Founded	1994
Type	Non-governmental organization
Headquarters	Indonesia
Area served	Indonesia
Focus	Wildlife conservation

ProFauna is an Indonesian non-governmental organization focused on wildlife protection, conservation policy, and public education. Founded in the mid-1990s, it operates across the Indonesian archipelago, engaging with stakeholders ranging from local communities to international institutions. The organization conducts campaigns, research, rescue operations, and advocacy to address threats to native fauna, and interacts with regional, national, and global actors in biodiversity and wildlife trade arenas.

History

ProFauna emerged in 1994 amid heightened attention to biodiversity hotspots such as Sunda Shelf, Wallacea, and the Malay Archipelago. Its formation paralleled regional developments including the Rio Earth Summit follow-up processes, the implementation of Convention on Biological Diversity measures, and increasing activity by NGOs like World Wide Fund for Nature and Conservation International in Southeast Asia. Early work concentrated on charismatic species such as Sumatran tiger, Javan rhinoceros, and Komodo dragon, while responding to pressures from logging in Borneo, conversion in Sumatra, and illegal trade routes linked to ports in Jakarta and Surabaya. Over time, the group expanded its remit to include advocacy around international agreements like CITES and cooperation with research institutions such as Bogor Botanical Gardens affiliates and universities including University of Indonesia and Gadjah Mada University.

Mission and Objectives

The stated mission emphasizes protection of Indonesian wildlife, enforcement of wildlife protection laws, and education to reduce demand for illegal wildlife products. Objectives include strengthening implementation of laws such as the Indonesian Law on Conservation frameworks, promoting sustainable practices in landscapes like Tesso Nilo National Park and Gunung Leuser National Park, and influencing policy at forums like ASEAN biodiversity meetings and United Nations Environment Programme gatherings. The organization sets priorities across species protection, habitat conservation, anti-poaching enforcement, and community outreach in areas adjacent to reserves such as Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

ProFauna operates as a membership-based NGO with regional offices coordinating field teams, campaign units, and a central secretariat in an Indonesian city. Leadership has included directors and campaign coordinators who liaise with law enforcement agencies like Badan Reserse Kriminal Polri and conservation bodies including Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Indonesia). The structure typically comprises program managers for species work, legal and policy advisers interacting with entities like National Police of Indonesia, education officers partnering with schools and organizations such as Indonesian Ornithologists' Union, and communications staff engaging with media outlets like Kompas and The Jakarta Post.

Programs and Campaigns

Programs span species-focused initiatives, anti-trafficking operations, habitat protection, and public-awareness campaigns. Species initiatives have targeted taxa including orangutan, sunda pangolin, humphead wrasse, and various avifauna found in Cenderawasih Bay. Anti-trafficking activities involve undercover investigations, cooperation with customs authorities at airports like Soekarno–Hatta International Airport, and prosecution support in court systems influenced by statutes such as Indonesian wildlife protection laws. Outreach efforts include campaigns with celebrities, partnerships with organizations like TRAFFIC and Wildlife Conservation Society, and educational programs in collaboration with museums like Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense. ProFauna has also campaigned against practices linked to wet markets in cities such as Medan and cultural uses of wildlife in regions like Bali.

Conservation Impact and Achievements

Achievements attributed to the organization include increased media exposure of trafficking networks, contributions to successful prosecutions of traffickers, and rescue and rehabilitation operations for confiscated animals returned to sanctuaries such as those run by Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation and Yayasan Pusat Rehabilitasi Satwa Liar. Campaigns helped bring attention to illegal trade routes connecting Indonesia with markets in China, Vietnam, and Thailand, informing policy dialogues at ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network meetings. Collaborative research outputs with universities have informed management plans for sites like Taman Nasional Komodo and contributed data to inventories used by global assessments such as the IUCN Red List. Public education initiatives have engaged audiences through collaborations with broadcasters like Metro TV and NGOs including BirdLife International.

Controversies and Criticisms

The organization has faced criticism from various quarters including local businesses, market vendors, and some community leaders who argue campaigns can harm livelihoods reliant on wildlife trade or traditional uses. Conservationists and legal analysts have debated tactical approaches, with some comparing aggressive campaigning to methods used by groups such as Greenpeace and raising questions about engagement with enforcement agencies like Bareskrim versus diplomatic channels such as Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Indonesia). Accusations have occasionally arisen about tactics during undercover investigations and the implications for partner safety, invoking debates similar to controversies surrounding NGOs including Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and Environmental Investigation Agency. Legal disputes and public disagreements have prompted calls for clearer guidelines on NGO conduct and coordination with institutions such as Komnas HAM and judicial authorities.

Category:Non-governmental organizations based in Indonesia