Irrawaddy dolphin (Orcaella brevirostris)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 11253066

Yayasan Konservasi RASI (Conservation Foundation for Rare Aquatic Species of Indonesia) was legally established in 2000 as an Indonesian NGO (Registration number: 02.054.531.5-722.000). YK-RASI is a non-profit, non-governmental organization for whom the loss of aquatic (related) species’ diversity and deteriorating habitat is of its deepest concern. The organization’s goal is to conduct conservation activities based on biological/ social-economical research in Indonesia to protect endangered, aquatic related species and their freshwater and marine habitat/ ecosystem, thereby protecting natural resources with importance to humankind as well. YK-RASI also promotes a sustainable use of natural resources of the aquatic (related) environment by aiding self-supporting sustainable resource user-groups. Our programs and projects follow a scientific, policy and awareness approach and until now mostly focused on the protection and sustainable management of natural resources in the Middle Mahakam River, Lakes and Wetlands Area in East Kalimantan including protection of rare, endangered or threatened species with a special focus on the freshwater Irrawaddy dolphin population in the Mahakam. A range of activities have already been undertaken within this integrated conservation program including awareness campaigns and formal environmental education program in particluar with schoolchildren and fishermen, village and district workshops for area protection, sustainable fisheries project, socio-economic and biodiversity assessment surveys and the establishment of a dolphin information center.