This is Nigel Sizer’s third and last post from Indonesia.

Jakarta: Day 6, February 6, 2007

Jakarta is a city on the point of collapse. Two days of torrential rain last week resulted in the worst floods people can remember. Today, three days later, half the city is still under water. The poor have migrated to mosques, houses of relatives on higher ground, schools and wherever they can find food and shelter. The wealthy have packed the hotels. Local media present a nonstop screed against the politicians and government agencies that they accuse of doing too little and too late. The floods come every year. The drains are not maintained, and more and more buildings and parking lots occupy the few remaining green spaces in and around the city that can help absorb the rains.

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But Rare’s work goes on! I flew into Jakarta last night to be able to get into the city in time for a pivotal meeting with our partner, WWF-Indonesia, and their team of managers from Kalimantan, who lead the high-profile Heart of Borneo initiative. Sari and I presented Rare and our methods, while Hari got stuck in flood water somewhere south of Jakarta. Half the city’s roads are impassable, the other half jammed with traffic finding alternative routes.

Despite the logistical challenges, Rare and WWF agreed to form a partnership for Borneo. Now the fun part starts: identifying the local partners to lead the Pride campaigns, raising the funds, and getting out into the forests and local communities to inspire and conserve!

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