HUTAN Group is a citizens' group of people who wish to protect forests. Set in the tropical forests of Borneo, where orangutans, proboscis monkeys and many other lives are connected, it has worked for more than 30 years to halt the decline of the ecosystem, to conserve and restore forests together with NGOs in Japan and abroad and local villagers, and to show Japanese consumers how large-scale development such as palm oil is linked to our consumption.
On site, its activities include growing and planting native seedlings, Borneo eco-tours and work on forest fires. It also produced a documentary showing villagers who once took part in illegal logging and similar activities now trying to restore the land after the large forest fires in Indonesia in 2015.
In Japan, it holds tropical forest study sessions, sends out speakers, publishes a newsletter and offers learning content such as explanatory videos and the "Borneo Tropical Photo Gallery." It became a general incorporated association in April 2026, carrying on the path it walked as a voluntary group.
Key points
- Seedling production, planting and eco-tours that contribute to restoring Borneo's forests
- Study sessions, speakers and explanatory videos showing how tropical forests connect to everyday consumption
- A citizens' activity begun in 1988, now carried on as a general incorporated association since April 2026
Why this organization deserves attention
It does not treat tropical forest problems as events in a faraway country but invites us to think of them as linked to our own consumption. Videos, handouts and a photo gallery are available for anyone to explore easily.
It has also kept up, with citizens' power, both restoration work on site and communication work in Japan. There are several ways to take part, including eco-tours, membership and volunteering.
Editor's comment
Orangutans, proboscis monkeys, hornbills. Just hearing their names brings to mind the richness of Borneo's forests. Knowing that those forests are connected to the things we use every day makes them feel a little closer.
The official website has plenty of content, such as explanatory videos and a photo gallery, that you can enjoy at your own pace. Why not take a look at one of them?