In a bid to raise awareness among village children about the importance of protecting nature, UPTD Taman Hutan Raya (Tahura) Wan Abdul Rachman has officially inaugurated the Tahura Wan Abdul Rachman Reading House.

This facility is the result of a collaborative effort between UPTD Tahura Wan Abdul Rachman, Satintelmed BAIS TNI, PGN, and FLIGHT: Protecting Indonesia’s Birds. It provides a wide variety of books focused on the environment and forest conservation, all accessible to children for free.

Eny Puspasari, Head of UPTD Tahura, stated that the reading house serves as a concrete step toward introducing the values of forest conservation from an early age.

“Education is the key to protecting our forests. Through this reading house, children can learn and develop a love for nature from a young age,” said Eny.

She explained that the Tahura Wan Abdul Rachman area is currently facing significant pressure from the local population, which has led to a decline in forest quality. According to 2019 data from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, approximately 80 percent of Tahura WAR’s forest cover has been converted into mixed gardens (kebun campuran).

“We hope this reading house marks the beginning of a new generation that cares about the environment and is willing to help protect Tahura,” Eny concluded.

Meanwhile, Marison Guciano, Director of FLIGHT, added that the reading house is part of a broader public awareness program running alongside efforts to improve the welfare of local residents, such as the development of bird-friendly coffee.

“We want the community to understand the importance of protecting the forest, while also gaining economic benefits from sustainable management,” he said.