 | Impact, special achievements & commitments | | | PT Forestwise Wild Keepers (FWK) is a producer operation company based in Sintang, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is a full subsidiary company to Forestwise / The Wild Bunch BV, which is based in the Netherlands.
FWK’s mission is to halt deforestation by increasing rainforest value. The world’s forests are providing us with oxygen, water, food, medicine, materials, electricity and more; all essential for humans to survive on this planet. FWK believes humankind should do everything in its power to stop deforestation, rather today than tomorrow.
Forests can produce up to five times more than monoculture plantations, without producing any waste. That’s why we believe the answer lies in shifting from monoculture agriculture to forest-based production systems. We need to reestablish the link between nature and what we consume.
FWK supports farmers to sustainably produce high quality, wild harvested, non-timber rainforest products, from existing forests and without harming the forest. By increasing sales of these products, FWK simultaneously increases the value of the forest and empower the forest communities to keep protecting it.
FWK employs 32 people in the peak season and about 20 people in the low season. The majority of the workers are of Indonesian nationality. FWK sources raw materials from over 1000 collectors, all across the province of West Kalimantan. We have been Fair for Life (FFL) certified since 2019. As of 2022, we are able to supply FFL certified Illipe Butter, Illipe Meal, Kukui Nut Oil, Rubber Seed Oil and Natural Rubber Latex.
FWK has sold their first Fair for Life certified products in 2020. Together with FWK’s stakeholders such as the collectors and employees, potential projects had been identified for using Fair Trade Funds.
The Fair Trade Fund Decision Body (FDB), an assembly of main intended beneficiaries, has decided on which would be supported. This year, we have distributed the first fair trade funds. The FWK staff have chosen to take an English language course. The collectors have chosen to use the funds for various purposes, such as using the funds to donate towards stationary for the local school, buying seedlings of various types of trees, as a contribution for obtaining land certificates, getting houses connected to the electricity grid and donating the funds towards the building of a church. It is so very rewarding to see these additional benefits of our work and the FFL certification. It really helps to strengthen our close relationship with the collectors. We are proud to be Fair for Life certified. |
