The Seluma Landscape in Bengkulu is both a frontier of palm oil expansion and a sanctuary for endangered species such as the Sumatran tiger, elephant, sun bear, and hornbill. With more than 60,000 hectares of smallholder palm oil plantations, farmers play a defining role in shaping the future of this landscape whether it becomes a driver of deforestation or a model of sustainable production and biodiversity protection.

Since 2023, Nature50 has been supporting communities in Seluma to transform challenges into opportunities. Through the CNEO (Carbon Neutral Edible Oil) pillar, independent smallholders are being integrated into sustainable supply chains, gaining access to land rights, better farming practices, and markets that reward deforestation-free and climate-smart production. By positioning smallholders as stewards of forests rather than agents of deforestation, Seluma is turning palm oil from a liability into a solution.

At the same time, Nature50 is facilitating Critical Habitat Protection (CHP) in partnership with forest management units to safeguard remaining forests such as the Bukit Sanggul reserve home to critically endangered tigers and pangolins, as well as elephants and gibbons. Protecting these forests not only conserves biodiversity but also strengthens the ecological foundations that underpin climate resilience and local livelihoods.

Through Local Government Support Facilities (LGSF), Seluma’s district government is engaged as a co-owner of sustainability. Aligning social forestry initiatives with district development agendas ensures that conservation efforts deliver real benefits for communities while reinforcing national climate targets. Meanwhile, Re-entry for Recovery (R4R) offers a pathway for companies with a legacy of deforestation to regain market access by investing in forest restoration and community-based recovery.

Seluma is more than a district producing palm oil—it is a landscape of solutions. Here, the protection of tiger and elephant habitats goes hand in hand with empowering farmers, strengthening local governance, and building supply chains that global markets can trust. With Nature50’s integrated approach, Seluma has the potential to stand as a model of climate resilience and inclusive sustainability in Sumatra.