The large-scale hunt for hornbill concerns Misno. He became even more alarmed to know that various nets were being put around Mount Leuser National Park to catch Sumatran tigers. In response, he launched an initiative to save these animals from extinction.
Misno, a man with a short name, was introduced to journalists by the Sumatran Tiger Project when he arrived at the office of Section V Bukit Lawang in Langkat, North Sumatra. At that time, Misno arrived with his six subordinates in the Patroli Smart team. They were Jansen Christopher Ginting, a non-permanent staff member at Mount Leuser National Park; Ibnu Hijar, a civilian police partner (MMP), Ali Mansyah, a MMP, Eriyanto, a volunteer, Bram Umbari, a non-permanent staff member and Heri Kiswanto, a volunteer. Misno’s team was said to be the “smartest” among the 25 Patroli Smart teams in Mount Leuser National Park.
Misno and his team were considered smart because they are able to perform patrols without the direct supervision of experts, namely the non-governmental organizations that introduced them to the Patroli Smart method.
Patroli Smart, an acronym for spatial monitoring and reporting tools, prioritizes data gathering and detail reporting of geographic spots. The end product can be used in forest management for better planning and protection.
In Langkat, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) received funding from the Sumatran Tiger Project. This partner of the national park also teaches data gathering techniques and how to navigate in the forest. The WCS successfully helped Misno and his friends become an independent patrol team.
Misno joined the forest conservation program. Initially in 1998, he was a non-permanent staff member for the orangutan rehabilitation center. As a caregiver, he provided food at the feeding site and quarantine at the national park.
Having long interacted with the orangutans, in 2009 he was promoted to be a civil servant. He applied for a position at the resort, fearing an infection from the orangutans. Two years later, he was assigned to the resort – the lowest position in the national park.
Working at the resort, his main job was doing patrols and interacting with the local people. Interaction with local people has proven to be a key for the success of forest conservation. He said the people were key informants given the fact they lived around the forest.
Even though patrols inside the park can be very dangerous because of potential encounters with hunters or wild animals, Misno was undeterred. He was grateful to be given a PT Pindad-made firearm, the only firearm in the team, which was crucial for survival if the team ran out of food.
He learned to shoot by himself. He and his friends never received training.
At one time, he became trapped in an area surrounded by floodwaters. Their 12-days worth of supplies were used up, meaning they were unable to reach the location target. This was a learning experience for the team to improve their standard operational procedures.
Encounter with hunters
For the past three years, he has been trusted to lead a team to ensure security around the national park in Langkat. He is responsible for patrol planning, navigation and data gathering for each 10-14 day patrol.
He and his team once nabbed two hornbill and leafbird hunters without the help of the forest rangers. It happened in the early days he was assigned to lead the patrol.
At first, they spotted four bird hunters. But during the ambush, two ran away. The two hunters under arrest managed to flee with their hands in cuffs. They deceived Misno’s team, which had no experience dealing with criminals.
“They jumped into a ravine. That was a precious learning experience for us,” he said.
Regarding the fate of the two criminals, he said he received information that both were safe and now in Jambi. From this incident, he continues improving his skills and capabilities.
From the records on the Patroli Smart app, Misno had patrolled more than 200 kilometers of path in the national park over 96 days by 2017. The 200 kilometers range is remarkable considering the difficult terrain in the national park.
In the Environment and Forestry Ministry’s structure, especially in the Mount Leuser National Park, his position is a forest security officer and head of the Marike resort area. He is also the commander of a Patroli Smart team, whose members also come from other resorts.
“Pak Misno is not a forest ranger but he is able to perform the duties of a forest ranger,” said Palber Turnip, head of Section V at the national park, Misno’s superior.
The decision to equip Misno with a firearm PM1A1 has, however, triggered controversy.
He said Misno had the responsibility to ensure security around the national park, meaning his function was similar to a forest ranger even though he was officially not a forest ranger. The decision to give Misno a firearm, Palber said, had been the subject of a lawsuit by the suspects. The investigator won the case.
Adhi Nurul Hadi, head of the conservation technique, acknowledged Misno and his friends had better patrol capabilities than other teams. From data collection to data input, they require no help from the NGO.
Misno was not aware that his activities in and outside the jungle could be recorded and measured. He said he only did his job with passion and love for the jungle, a place for him to learn about life.
KOMPAS/ICHWAN SUSANTO
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Born: Bukit Lawang, July 17, 1977
Education: SDN Bukit Lawang (1987); SMP Bakti Karya Gotong Royong (1993)
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