The Ethnobiological Society of Indonesia (Perkumpulan Masyarakat Etnobiologi Indonesia - PMEI) has been named one of the nine inaugural winners of the prestigious Reverse the Red Accelerator Award. The award was announced today at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.
PMEI received this recognition for its dedicated project focused on recovering the Kalimantan Mango (Mangifera casturi), a fruit tree species declared Extinct in the Wild. The project is coordinated by Range Harnata Palodang.
The Reverse the Red Accelerator Award, presented by Reverse the Red with support from the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and Synchronicity Earth, is designed to mobilize innovation, refine strategies, and accelerate tangible action for threatened species globally. Winners were selected from a highly competitive pool of 240 applications from around the world.
"We are deeply honored and thrilled to receive this Accelerator Award," said Range Harnata Palodang, Project Coordinator for PMEI. "This is a powerful validation of our work and a crucial boost for the Kalimantan Mango. This mango is not just a species; it is a part of our cultural and ecological heritage in Kalimantan. This support will allow us to significantly scale up our conservation strategies, including propagation, habitat restoration, and working with local communities to reintroduce this iconic species back into its native forests."
The Kalimantan Mango, known for its unique flavor and cultural significance in South Kalimantan, has been lost in its natural habitat due to deforestation and land-use changes. PMEI's project integrates scientific research with deep local knowledge (ethnobiology) to develop a holistic recovery plan.
Michael Clifford, Director of Strategy for Reverse the Red, commended the winners: "These projects will not only benefit these incredible species but will also be models for strategic action, inspiring our community and giving hope for years to come." The full announcement of all nine award winners can be read on the Reverse the Red website at the following link: https://www.reversethered.org/news/reverse-the-red-announces-accelerator-award-winners
Nicolas Heard, Acting Director General of the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, added, "There is a clear need to increase funding support to hands-on species conservation projects, and to enable the wonderful people saving species. This is an opportunity to participate with other species donors to help get funding to those who are having an impact."
The award will empower PMEI to intensify its field activities over the next 12 months, driving impactful action that aligns with global biodiversity targets and demonstrating that with focused effort, we can indeed Reverse the Red