Bendry Ritonga

Background

About Bendry Ritonga

My experience over the past 6 years has focused on 3 things, all of which are mutually reinforcing: 1. Facilitator of conflict resolution especially in forested areas. Most of my work focuses on conflict areas, especially conflicts related to tenure and animal conflicts. Along the way I became a conflict resolution facilitator in the following areas:* Gunung Leuser National Park, Sekochi-Lepan Resort (Conflict between cultivators and the area holder, TNGL), resolved through the Conservation Partnership scheme.* Gunung Leuser National Park, Bekancan Resort (Land tenure conflict between cultivators and area stakeholders (TNGL) in Suka Makmur Village, Lau Gedang Hamlet), settlement through Conservation Partnership scheme * Mitigation and public awareness of conflicts between farmers and tigers in Gunung Leuser National Park.* Facilitator of tenurial conflict resolution in the management area of industrial forest plantation companies, through the Participatory Mapping and Land Tenurial Studies scheme. Community Facilitator, especially for Farmer Groups in the form of Forest Farmer Groups (KTH), Conservation Forest Farmer Groups, and Village Farmer Groups. My job description as a Facilitator is as follows:* Helping groups improve their understanding of organizational techniques;* Assist the group to map the proposed area;* Train the group on micro and macro group finance techniques;* Train the group on group legality documents;* Assist the group to achieve group targets and goals;* Facilitate the group in accessing information, resources, financial and other support from relevant stakeholders. Organic Farming Farm Field School (FFS) I have experience assisting farmers in 5 Farm Field School (FFS) classes over a period of two years. The location was in Gunung Leuser National Park, targeting Conservation Forest Farmer Groups (KTHK). The Conservation Forest Farmer Groups are almost entirely former illegal loggers who have moved on and are willing to partner with the government through the Conservation Partnership scheme. The five classes are: 1. Pantai Buaya Citrus FFS 2. Durian FFS 3. Petai & Jengkol FFS 4. Crop FFS 5. Lemongrass FFS Crucial point: The purpose of the Field School is to train KTHK farmers to be self-sufficient, or at least not dependent on chemical agricultural products from factories. When the farmers are prosperous, they can be more energized to do conservation work, to restore the forest areas that were damaged in the past. When ex-illegal loggers are empowered, conflicts over natural resources and logging will be reduced.