Original subtitles

(wildlife chattering)

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Spread out, start looking around.

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(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] Sumatra, a legendary island,

a bountiful Eden once famed for its remarkable biodiversity,

home to the weird and the wonderful,

a haven for the endangered pangolin,

the elusive clouded leopard, and the most famous inhabitant

of all, the majestic Sumatran tiger.

- There's not many places like this left in the world.

I find that incredibly exciting

as a scientist and as a zoologist.

- [Narrator] As decades of logging, relentless poaching,

and slash-and-burn farming takes its toll across Indonesia.

- Indonesia is the fourth largest country in the world.

And the population pressure in the land

pressure is always there.

(helicopter whirs)

- [Narrator] The island is now the epicenter

of a last ditch defense

of a rare, vital, and pristine wilderness.

A battle that is finally turning

with some new and surprising allies

joining the front lines,

the very companies who once logged this landscape.

- If my teams were to look the other direction,

there would be more land claims occurring, fires

occurring, illegal logging, entering the area.

- [Narrator] Can those who have profited

from Sumatra's resources become the guardians

of the forest for the future?

(tiger growls)

This is Frontier Sumatra.

Sumatra is one of nature's masterpieces,

a glorious interconnected tapestry where every creature,

no matter how big or how small,

how rare or how common, plays its part

in its delicate balance.

But this incredible landscape is under threat.

East Sumatra was once dominated by tropical peat forests,

rare ecosystems that occur only near the equator

and are vital for biodiversity.

Since the 1970s, land clearing and burning

has turned most of these habitats into agricultural land.

50 years later,

the largest remaining block of natural forest

lies on the Kampar Peninsula.

This area still faces many threats, but unlike the past,

this peat forest now has new guardians.

- Our job is to protect and restore the forest.

The threats that we face are forest encroachment

or land claims, illegal logging, and potentially fire.

- [Narrator] Brad Sanders is responsible

for an innovative conservation project

called rest Restorasi Ekosistem Riau, or the RER.

- I like to say that this is my office.

It's 150,000 hectares of some of the roughest,

most difficult, wet tropical rainforest

you'll ever experience.

It's 2015.

We've been able to identify over 797 species

of wildlife and plants.

We've got nine different species of hornbill.

We've got the sun bear.

- [Narrator] The Malayan sun bear

is the world's smallest bear species.

While their global population has been classed vulnerable,

it's not even the most endangered animal

sheltered by the RER.

- [Brad] We've got five different

small wildcats that are unique to Sumatra,

including the critically endangered Sumatran tiger.

- [Narrator] The RER is the size of Greater London,

an irresistible natural sanctuary for Sumatra's displaced

wildlife, like the Sumatran tiger,

but with a single tiger selling

for around $100,000 U.S. Dollars,

protecting these iconic creatures from poachers

has been a challenge from day one.

- The RER security Rangers.

So they're there to protect the forest.

(helicopter blades hum)

- [Narrator] When the team do find illegal activity,

they're quick to react.

Brad is often called in to assist with these missions

along with the RER's lead ranger, Wahyudi.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Brad] It was a scary moment because we didn't know

exactly where the tiger was.

And we didn't know if it was still in the trap

or freed from the trap.

So we had to approach very cautiously.

As we approached closer and closer,

we were just inching along,

whispering and tip-toeing along the trail.

And then suddenly this huge roar erupted from the vegetation

(animal roars)

and everything began to move around us.

The branches, the trees.

- [Wahyudi] It's okay, it's okay, it's okay.

- [Brad] After just a few seconds, about 10 or 15 seconds,

we realized the tiger was still secure.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] With help from the Ministry

of Environment and Forestry, the tiger was rescued

and brought to a rehabilitation facility.

- [Brad] So in the end,

we were able to thwart the attempted poaching of a tiger.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] The RER depends on Brad's team

staying one step ahead of the poachers.

- Aerial patrol, we can see any threats

and we can focus our ground team's actions.

Okay, we probably wanna circle on the left, Jeff.

- [Narrator] Something suspicious

has caught Brad's attention.

- We're looking at a new camp that could be poaching.

They could be collecting birds or other animals illegally.

So we'll have to send our team up here.

- [Narrator] RER Rangers are strategically placed

along the forest boundary.

One of those areas is the main highway

into the RER, the Serkap River.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] Brad's aerial patrol has identified

several potential poaching sites that need checking out.

- Rain is coming.

- [Narrator] But patrolling a tropical peat swamp

is never easy.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] One problem is some groups

have turned to illegally poaching songbirds,

but Head Ranger Wahyudi also has to try

to maintain the peace with the 400-odd people

that live around the RER.

(speaking foreign language)

(boat motor stops)

- [Narrator] Illegal bird poachers

are coming up with ever more devious ways

of capturing birds from the forest.

So Wahyudi must rely on his experience

as lead ranger to find their traps.

(speaking foreign language)

(bird chirping)

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] But this sound is not coming from any bird.

It's a recording used by poachers as a lure.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] This is what the team

have been searching for.

Agus volunteers to climb up and dismantle the trap.

(speaking foreign language)

(crowd applauds)

- [Narrator] And this is what drives

the poaching of 20 million songbirds each year.

(man bird calls)

Indonesia's songbird competitions,

where winners can earn big prize money, and a champion bird

can sell for as much as $50,000 U.S. Dollars.

(crowd shouting)

Fortunately, the rangers have managed to find this trap

before any birds were caught.

(speaking foreign language)

(boat motor whirs)

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] While Head Ranger Wahyudi

commands the protection of the river,

he sent his deputy deep into the forest

to search for other signs of trouble.

(suspenseful music) (birds chatter)

The boundary of the RER might be dense vegetation,

but that won't stop determined poachers

and loggers from encroaching.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] With patrols sometimes lasting over a week,

the team must find their own food and water.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] Hendrizel comes from a long line

of illegal loggers,

but he is one of many in this generation who are now

working to protect rather than destroy.

These efforts aren't in vain.

Sumatran tigers are retreating to the protection

of this forest.

With less than 400 left in the world,

the RER is vital, as it can house up to 50 tigers,

but for some, they are still an irresistible bounty.

(speaking foreign language)

(dramatic music)

- [Narrator] One more tiger has been saved

from a grizzly fate,

(helicopter blades whir)

but while Brad and his team must stay vigilant

to the poachers,

they're far from the only threat to the RER.

(microphone chatter)

Topping the list of most destructive

is something that comes each year without fail.

(flames crackle)

(distant siren wails)

In 2015, a massive 26,000 square kilometers

of land was incinerated in just four months.

Fueled in part by Sumatra's flammable carbon-rich peatland,

with the Kampar Peninsula now deep into the dry season,

it's all hands on deck to keep these peat forests safe.

- One thing people must understand is these fires

aren't like other fires.

In Indonesia, trees will actually burn into their core.

The grass will burn longer.

And then of course, peat, peat burns forever.

- [Narrator] Ian Wevell is the fire manager for APRIL Group,

the pulp and paper company

responsible for plantations across the Kampar Peninsula.

Ian's job is tracking and containing

the many land-clearing fires

before they threaten APRIL's forests, including the RER.

- Okay, we are fires right now.

- This what.

- [Narrator] Fighting fire in Sumatra

is a never-ending battle.

So Ian's team is always on watch.

- Today there's 1,520 hot spots in Indonesia.

Of those 210 are in Sumatra.

So, we've got one at Bugtong.

That's a big fire, and we've got another one (indistinct).

We've got another one off Dumai.

Of those 210, we are investigating 80 of them

to make sure that we don't actually have fire

on the hotspots.

- [Narrator] Not all hotspots turn out to be fires,

but with so many to check,

there's only one way to cover that kind of ground.

(helicopter blades whir)

(tense music)

- You start to see a lot of the haze.

Visibility's dropped about 50 (indistinct).

- [Pilot] Yes, that's it.

- We have 20 or 30 fires in a day.

I can't focus on one.

So what I'll do is do an aerial patrol of the fire,

then make sure that the estate manager

and the fire team on the estate has got a plan,

and then also more importantly,

find out what they need from us to help them.

- [Narrator] Ian is monitoring an area

almost the size of Belgium, and with the RER

making up a sizeable portion of that territory,

many ask why a company would opt for protection over profit.

(peaceful music)

- Generally, people are very surprised

to know that a pulp and paper company is engaged

in such a large forest protection restoration project.

Companies are changing.

They're working to become if you will, greener,

because that is what is more sustainable.

It's what customers expect.

It's what society expects.

- [Narrator] Ecosystem restoration

on this scale needs serious money.

So APRIL has committed $100 million to the RER

just in its first 10 years.

It took someone with both vision and determination

to pull off something so ambitious.

- It was only an idea.

It was a crazy idea.

It was crazy because no private company like us

have actually invested so much in a model

where we can produce

and then protect sustainably from a landscape.

- [Narrator] Anderson is one of the new leaders

of his family's pulp and paper business,

offering a bold Millennial's perspective.

- Came back to the family business seven years ago.

I'm 31 this year.

I consider myself a Millennial.

I think I'm gonna live hopefully till 70 or 80,

another 40 or 50 years.

I should be the most worried about climate change,

because I'm gonna bear the brunt of climate change.

If this model works,

it really becomes an example for hopefully other companies

in our region in Indonesia and globally.

- [Narrator] So how does this model work?

- You need production areas in order to generate the income,

which is necessary to pay for the cost of protecting

and conserving a natural forest.

On the Kampar Peninsula we have a plantation ring.

The ring itself acts as a buffer zone to minimize

and mitigate potential threats that could cause damage

to the forest in the center.

- Okay, no, that's good, Kathy.

Kitty, kitty.

Okay, we have the fire, Sandy.

Yeah.

- [Narrator] Fire remains the most destructive threat

to the RER's rare creatures and plants.

- Conditions down there don't look very favorable.

- [Narrator] So Ian is always fighting

to keep the buffer zone fire-free.

- RER is well protected because of their ring concept,

which means that any fires have to start outside concession,

burn through our operational areas

before they get to the conservation.

It's like a moat around a castle.

- [Narrator] For several days, Ian's team

have been tackling a fire just outside APRIL's land.

- So the old fires already contained

and controlled, out.

There's to be some smoke,

but there's no way that it's actually gonna hit us.

- [Narrator] But during fire season,

a new inferno can break out at any moment.

- [Pilot] The new one is at 12 o'clock.

- Copy.

New one 12 o'clock, oh.

Yeah, no, that's that's a very horrible fire.

Yes.

Oh no, this is massive.

- [Pilot] Yeah, this is a massive one.

- We're looking at about 350 hectares.

This is the last flyover, then we gotta get back.

So we can talk to the guys.

- [Pilot] Yeah, yeah.

(speaking foreign language)

- Get to here, and make the boundary to here.

- We still need to monitor the boundary.

- [Ian] Still have to monitor, yeah.

- [Narrator] The fire is big

and could take several days to extinguish,

but if the team has been able to stop the fire

from spreading, they now at least have the upper hand.

- Okay.

(speaking foreign language)

There are instances where small fires start

in concession and head towards the RER conservation,

but those are stopped really quickly

because we've got access.

We've got transport to get there.

Our guys know what they need to do.

So RER is very well protected from fire at the moment.

(peaceful music)

- [Narrator] But why are peat forests like the RER

so particularly devastating when they catch fire?

Peat is just the first stages of coal.

The highest CO2 emitter of all the fossil fuels,

which means the RER is essentially a giant carbon bomb.

Forests the world over

are endlessly capturing and releasing carbon dioxide,

helping to regulate our climate,

but some are able to trap more carbon than they release.

Dry forests hold the majority of their carbon

above ground, stored in the trees.

But peat forests keep 90% of their carbon underground

in moist organic soils.

- In the worst case scenario,

if the carbon that's stored in this kind of peat ecosystems,

getting fire, and then released back to atmosphere,

it will make kind of the catastrophic climate change,

will be really bad, really bad.

(soft music)

- [Narrator] Over time, a peat forest's ability

to trap new carbon can wax and wane.

Now a team of scientists is on a mission to discover

if the RER is still absorbing carbon,

a study that could one day help justify the protection

of other peatlands across Sumatra.

- This forest kind of absorbing carbon dioxide,

and then lock that kind of carbon underground.

So this kind of forest play important role

for the global climate systems.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] There's something unique

about this forest that allows it to trap

so much carbon, water, and lots of it.

When plants die, they fall to the forest floor,

but with the soil waterlogged, the plant material

can't break down, trapping their carbon

beneath the forest as peat.

Our mission today is we would like

to look into the peat depth.

And then we have to take the samples

from this kind of peat, send it to laboratory.

(speaking foreign language)

If the mineral layer is 10 meters, we go deep.

But sometimes it's not a really easy job.

Sometimes we hit roots or wood

so it's very hard to get through.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] As expected much of the top layer

is completely waterlogged,

(suspenseful music)

but as they dig for deeper samples,

the team discover something unexpected.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] This peat has trapped more than just carbon.

These 5,000-year-old mangrove trees are rich in sulfur.

The key ingredient for acid rain.

So this would create an even more destructive combination

should fire ever rip through this area.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] Initial estimates from these samples suggest

there are at least 2.5 gigaton of carbon stored in the RER.

That's more than all of Asia's annual transport emissions,

but measuring subterranean carbon only gives you

half the answer.

To figure out how much new carbon the ecosystem

is trapping, Sofian has to look above ground.

(delicate music)

But up here, carbon moves.

So measuring it is much more difficult.

Carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants for photosynthesis,

but it's also being released by animals as they breathe.

So the only way for Sofian to see

if the RER is adding more carbon than it's losing

is to get his instruments above the canopy.

- [Sofian] The height of the greenhouse gas tower

in RER is 48 meters.

At the top of the tower,

we install some sensors to measure

kind of the carbon dioxide, methane,

and many other weather variables.

- [Narrator] This is the boundary

between the forest and the sky.

The only place where Sofian can get a clearer reading

on how much carbon comes and goes from the RER.

(speaking foreign language)

It's a painstaking study that can take months or even years

to collect accurate results.

(speaking foreign language)

In other parts of the world,

a football field-sized area of peatland can absorb

about one ton of carbon each year.

If the team discovers that the RER's tropical peat

is still absorbing carbon,

then it makes an even stronger case to protect Sumatra's

remaining peat forests.

- For me, it's kind of challenging,

working on the peat forest,

because it's kind of difficult ecosystem, so. (laughs)

It's a lack of knowledge, meaning that's more challenge,

but those challenges create big opportunities.

(soft music)

- [Narrator] While our knowledge of peat

continues to evolve, one thing goes undisputed.

Peat soil is the foundation

of a powerfully interconnected web of plants and animals.

But to protect these delicate ecosystems, first,

you have to understand the creatures contained within them.

No easy task.

When the RER's biodiversity

is not just hard to reach, it's elusive.

- We've got 797 species that we've detected to date.

A lot of these are listed as threatened, vulnerable.

We also have critically endangered species.

We have Sunda pangolin.

We have Sumatran tiger and many others.

So it's actually a really important area for biodiversity.

There's not many places like this left in the world.

- [Narrator] The more you know about an ecosystem,

the better you can protect it.

So Chela and her team are pushing their search

for new species deeper into the forest.

In the heart of the RER is an area called PT Gan.

Difficult access, dense vegetation,

and unknown risks have made previous missions too dangerous.

But after months of preparation,

a small expedition party has now been cleared to go in.

- We'll start with some remote camera trappings.

- RER Restoration Manager, Dr. Chela Powell and her team

will be the first to uncover the area's wildlife.

- There's a lot of different species that we're expecting

to find, hopefully new to science.

We're not sure.

- [Narrator] Chela is responsible

for keeping the team safe and on target for the mission.

If things don't go to plan,

they will have to rethink their approach

to surveying this difficult terrain.

(helicopter blades whir)

- [Chela] It's gonna be a long couple of days,

but I expect to find some really good results

from this unexplored area.

- We are one and a half minutes to the (indistinct).

- [Chela] Copy that.

- [Narrator] But there's a problem.

The peat soil at this remote site is too soft to land on.

- [Pilot] Okay, door open, okay.

Door open.

- [Narrator] This far from base,

the pilot can't take any chances.

So the team have to jump.

- Peat swamp forests are quite hard

to get into for humans.

You're often wet and hot and sweaty,

and your feet are sinking within the peat,

but there's also being absolutely in awe of this beautiful,

pristine forest and the unique group of animals that have

adapted to quite harsh conditions.

- [Narrator] While base camp is set up,

the rest of the team break off to begin their assignments.

One team must trek deeper into the forest to set up a series

of remote camera traps,

a tactic used for capturing biodiversity

in other areas of the RER.

(speaking foreign language)

- To find footprints is incredibly encouraging.

It means that the animals are there.

That means that they're using the forest.

So we're really, really excited to find that paw print.

- [Narrator] Finding an apex predator here

likely means there is plenty of food.

A sign the area's biodiversity is in good condition.

While the PT Gan team continue their mission,

Brad is exploring other ways to protect the RER.

(boat motor hums)

- The forest is incredible biodiversity.

It's very unique, very sensitive.

So the number one goal is to protect plants

and animals that live there.

- [Narrator] These 50 meter-high

(indistinct) trees are a key part of this forest,

providing food and shelter for many forest creatures,

like the Malayan sun bear.

It may come as no surprise that these towering trees

are also prized by illegal loggers.

But one group of locals is helping

to protect this particular piece of forest.

These Malayu people have found something more valuable

in these trees than timber.

For generations they have been harvesting honey

from the bees that call this tree home.

- There's about three different groups

that live near the RER boundary,

local people who actively collect honey on a seasonal basis.

We are working with all of these groups to help protect

the forest around their honey trees.

- [Narrator] The Malayu have spent years

mastering the art of honey gathering

and risked life and limb in the process.

The last thing they want is illegal loggers

to destroy their way of life.

- These guys are highly skilled.

They're courageous.

The honey bees develop their hives

30 to 40 meters above the ground,

and they harvest this honey at night.

They do it at night in order to avoid

getting stung by the bees.

(people chatter excitedly)

The type of bee that produces the honey

is called the Apis dorsata.

It's the largest honey-producing bee in the world.

- [Narrator] These bees might pack a painful sting,

but this sweet reward still makes these trees

worth protecting from illegal loggers.

- [Brad] By working with the local honey harvesters,

we're helping to preserve the local traditions and culture

and working together to protect the forest.

- [Narrator] Back in the remote research site

of PT Gan, nightfall reveals a new cast

of creatures to discover.

Two teams brave the darkness to carry out their mission.

- See there.

- [Narrator] This opportunity is rare.

So one of the RER's longtime partners,

Fauna and Flora International,

has joined the team to assist in exploring

PT Gan's nocturnal wildlife.

(speaking foreign language)

Not far from camp, they found a good place

to set up their specialized bat trap.

(speaking foreign language)

Bats play a vital role in any ecosystem from controlling

insect numbers to pollinating plants.

Their presence can be an excellent indicator

for a forest's health.

- Bats can fly anywhere.

So you have to pick next to the trees,

actually quite dense vegetation.

(speaking in foreign language)

- [Narrator] This is called a harp trap.

These delicate threads gently catch the bats in flight

and deposit them in the canvas sack below.

To minimize the stress to the bats,

the team will have to wake up early to record and release

anything they've caught.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the camp,

Chela is preparing to set up

an entirely different kind of trap.

- We'll have a look around here.

We need two trees, yeah.

So perhaps this one and this one,

this looks like a good spot.

This part of the Kampar Peninsula has never been surveyed

comprehensively for invertebrates.

In PT Gan we set up a light trap.

So that means setting up a large area with a white sheet,

in fact, and just some light behind

and the insects are drawn to it.

Likely to be some species that are new for the province,

new for Sumatra, new for Indonesia,

and also even new to science, so it's incredibly exciting.

- [Narrator] Insects are the foundation

of the RER's food chain.

More diversity at the bottom means a stronger ecosystem

for the big animals at the top.

- [Chela] Okay, but we illuminate it as much as possible.

So part of the reason we're looking for insects here

is they're actually the most diverse group of animals.

And they're also really important in ecosystem functioning,

nutrient cycling, pollination.

- [Narrator] But as luck would have it,

the light trap also lures something wholly unexpected.

- [Chela] We heard this very loud, buzzing sound.

It sounded a bit like a bird coming past.

- [Narrator] Out here, there's really only one insect

big enough to sound like a bird, but in the darkness,

it's hard for the team to make it out clearly.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Chela] Oh yes, it is!

(speaking foreign language)

- One of our guys who had a headlamp on

or a torch on his head had to drop it to the ground

'cause it was crawling over his face.

His theory is that it can actually sting you within 12 times

within one second and can actually make you unconscious.

- [Narrator] The team manages to capture

what they believe is an Asian giant hornet,

the largest Hornet species on Earth,

with a venom that can kill humans.

These massive hornets can slaughter

the RER's honeybee populations.

So the team may have to monitor the situation carefully.

- [Chela] I think that's enough for tonight.

We've got plenty.

Let's go.

(birds singing)

- [Narrator] The next morning,

Donny's team is awake early to check their bat trap.

- Ah.

(speaking foreign language)

- It's a very small one.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] These highly trained bat experts

have struck gold, a small wooly bat.

One of the smallest bat species in the world.

Little is known about this species except that its numbers

are dropping due to deforestation.

The FFI team are practiced and prepared to handle bats,

which allows them to move quickly

and carefully to record their discovery.

- [Scientist] It's a male.

- [Narrator] These bats can eat their own body weight

in mosquitoes each night,

acting as the forest's pest control.

So while the RER may be a last refuge for this tiny bat,

it's also helping to keep the ecosystem healthy.

(cheery music)

Many more discoveries lie in wait

in this unexplored peat forest.

But for now the PT Gan mission has come to an end.

(helicopter blades whir)

The team prepares to head back to analyze their findings,

hoping to come up with new ways

to preserve the RER's biodiversity.

- You know, the protection and restoration

of this area is not only important for us.

It's important for Indonesia and for the global community.

So that's really one of the main reasons why

I'm particularly passionate about conserving this landscape.

- [Narrator] The RER's ecosystem

is remarkably diverse and adaptive,

but the truth is there is one species living in the RER

that is more disruptive than any other in nature, humans.

The spread of mankind into natural spaces is inevitable.

However, with the right knowledge,

it may be possible for us to develop

without destroying nature.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] Bahtiar is a master fisherman.

Today he's preparing to gather

fresh bait for his fish traps.

The larvae hidden deep inside this giant honey beehive

are perfect for attracting

the river's prized (indistinct) fish.

But over time,

he's also learned ways of coexisting with the forest.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] Taking just a piece of a hive

will allow it to regenerate,

but mastering that task is often easier said than done.

(speaking foreign language)

(bees buzz)

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] Bahtiar and his cousin must be precise,

despite the maelstrom of bees.

Even though ripping out the whole hive would be faster,

it would also remove the queen, killing the colony.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] Success.

Bahtiar has his bait and the hive will regrow

in a matter of weeks.

(gentle music)

(speaking foreign language)

But can a billion-dollar company take a leaf

out of Bahtiar's book, taking as little as you can

and let the forest replenish itself.

- We want to be part of that movement in the world

that companies can produce from a landscape,

but can also protect the landscape.

- [Narrator] The Kampar Peninsula is similar

to Bahtiar's beehive.

APRIL's model is designed to take what they need

from the surrounding areas,

but leave the heart of the forest intact to regenerate.

The big problem is past human activity has already caused

damage to the RER, damage that it can't heal by itself.

- [Anderson] This is not Yosemite Park in America. (laughs)

This is actually in Indonesia

where communities are living in the ground,

leaving a piece of forest alone in Indonesia for five years

doesn't mean it'll stay untouched for five years,

but that's the challenge we face.

And if we don't change the conversation

to explore different models,

then we are not giving a practical

and a viable model a fair chance.

- [Narrator] Part of that model

is finding ways to repair the damage

caused by previous human activity in the RER,

protecting its future by healing the wounds of the past.

- Some ecosystems are vulnerable.

They are fragile.

So slight disturbance can cause a big impact.

Some ecosystem actually can heal themself,

but if it's severely damaged,

then human interference and is needed.

- [Narrator] A single hectare of natural forest

can contain up to 1000 trees,

with some growing as old as 150 years.

But when a forest becomes this degraded,

it needs to be rebuilt from scratch, a process that takes

knowledge and many years of work.

But this mission is about more than just regrowing trees.

It's an opportunity to rebuild near-extinct species.

- There are three species that are critically endangered,

and I think two species found here.

One species in particular,

it hasn't been fruiting for eight years.

(speaking foreign language)

- [Narrator] Finding the critically endangered

(indistinct) tree is hard enough,

but being there when it's dropping seeds

is an extremely rare occasion.

(speaking foreign language)

- The nut is still in good condition.

I'm excited that I can find some seeds

that's still okay to germinate them in our nursery.

So this is a great day.

- [Narrator] If Ikbal can get these endangered seeds

to germinate, it will be a huge step

towards repairing the ecosystem.

(soft music)

Tens of thousands of trees will be needed to heal the RER,

and nurseries like this is where they'll be born and raised.

(speaking foreign language)

A week after his exciting discovery,

Ikbal has returned to check on the progress

of his endangered seedlings.

(speaking foreign language)

It will take months for the endangered seedlings

to be strong enough for planting,

but there are plenty of others that are ready to become

part of the future forest.

(speaking foreign language)

(peaceful music)

- [Ikbal] Forest restoration is not worked off

two or three years

'cause the forest takes 1000 years to form.

So what we are doing might not change something

in a short period of time,

but hopefully this work will be continued

by the next generations.

- [Narrator] As the RER flourishes,

there is a natural harmony

that's spreading throughout the forest.

It seems that with enough work,

mankind and nature can find a way to coexist.

(speaking foreign language)

- This is the longest rest period

this forest has had in the past 20 years.

So what does the future hold

for the next 55 years of our license?

More rest period.

Let the forest grow.

Let the biodiversity thrive.

- [Narrator] Protecting nature

doesn't come cheaply or easily,

but with the world losing nearly 30 football pitches

of forest every minute, bold solutions are needed

now more than ever.

Who better to provide the will and the financial clout

than the companies who rely on this landscape

for their very existence?

Can these organizations become forest protectors,

safeguarding their business

and these rich ecosystems for the future?

Only time will tell if this groundbreaking model

can benefit industry, habitats,

and even legendary creatures

like the Sumatran tiger in the long run.

(exciting music)

(soft music)