London, UK – On Sunday 19 October, 2025, the Blue Earth Summit hosted the world premiere of Batutegi: Seeds of Hope, a visually stunning 29-minute documentary highlighting the urgent fight to save one of Indonesia’s most biodiverse ecosystems. This event was organized by the International Animal Rescue (IAR), a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting endangered species and their habitats.
The Batutegi Protection Forest, located in Lampung Province, covers over 58,000 hectares and is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including Sumatran tigers, Sunda pangolins, Malayan tapirs, sun bears, and clouded leopards. With over 200 bird species, it is also a vital resource for the local communities, providing water and fertile soil for farming. However, the forest is under enormous pressure, with almost 9,000 hectares lost to agriculture in the last four decades, particularly for coffee production. Today, only 11,000 hectares of intact core forest remain.
The underlying issue for many local communities is the lack of opportunities. Without alternatives, families have resorted to clearing the forest for survival. However, this has led to a loss of food security, clean water, and soil fertility, trapping people in a cycle of vulnerability. In response, IAR is working with their Indonesian partner, Yayasan Inisiasi Alam Rehabilitasi Indonesia (YIARI), and the Forestry Department of Lampung Province to implement a new approach that combines forest protection, livelihoods, education, science, and governance.
Batutegi: Seeds of Hope, the documentary premiered at the summit, is not a typical nature film. It is a story of resilience, told by the local communities themselves. The film showcases how conservation efforts can improve livelihoods, empower women, and provide opportunities for young people, while also preserving irreplaceable forests and species. IAR’s work goes beyond saving individual animals; their goal is to protect entire ecosystems and the people who depend on them for their way of life. This is achieved through on-the-ground protection and community outreach, using education to help reduce their reliance on destructive practices and fostering a sense of conservation among the locals.
The importance of environmental stewardship is not lost on today’s employees. In a global survey conducted by Deloitte, 69% of workers expressed a desire to see their companies invest in sustainability, including efforts to reduce carbon emissions and waste. Additionally, 70% of employees stated that they would feel more loyal to a company that enables them to make a meaningful impact on the environment. Therefore, it is crucial for organizations to align with their employees’ values and demonstrate a genuine commitment to the environment.
One way to achieve this is through partnerships with fully certified companies, such as 1% for the Planet. This organization offers an easy-to-use platform for companies to align their capital with climate initiatives and integrate a sense of purpose for the environment into their company’s DNA. By learning to coexist with animals and nature in harmony, we can protect our planet and, in turn, ourselves. This is the future that IAR is determined to build, one seed, one forest, and one community at a time.
To find out more about IAR’s work and how to support them, please visit www.internationalanimalrescue.org.
