Amidst the growing movement for sustainable tourism, an inspiring initiative has taken root in the buffer village of Way Kambas National Park, Lampung. Rumah Energi, PT Insight Investments, and the Indonesian Rhino Initiative have joined forces in the project “Renewable Energy for Eco-tourism and Conservation”, a tangible step toward building an empowered Indonesia in the energy transition era. 

This collaboration brings together a unique synergy: environmentally conscious investment, eco-friendly technology, and sustainable conservation. More than just a program, the initiative tells a story of hope—showing how investment, innovation, and conservation can move hand in hand to shape a better future. 

Yet, behind this potential lies the daily struggles of the community—comprising farmer groups, livestock keepers, and women entrepreneurs producing eco-print crafts. Limited financial literacy often hinders them from managing income, making sound financial decisions, and accessing capital. Heavy reliance on chemical fertilizers and conventional animal feed not only drives up production costs but also harms the environment. Meanwhile, the potential of biogas and bio-slurry as alternative energy and organic fertilizer remain underutilized due to lack of knowledge. Similarly, the shortage of livestock feed during the dry season—something that could be mitigated with silage feed techniques—remains a persistent challenge due to limited application.

To address these issues, an integrated training program was held for farmer groups and women entrepreneurs in Labuan Ratu VII Village, East Lampung. The training covered Financial Literacy, Biogas Operation and Maintenance, Bio-slurry Management, and Silage Feed Production. Present at the event were Village Head Sumarno and Head of SPTN 3 Way Kambas National Park, Erwin Iskandar, both of whom emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration in maintaining ecosystem balance while improving community welfare. 

Through this project, the buffer villages of Way Kambas are not only strengthening their economic resilience but also safeguarding the environment. It is a small step with a big impact: building empowered communities, advancing energy independence, and paving the way for the future of sustainable tourism in Indonesia. 

Written by: Krisna Wijaya 
Edited by: Fauzan Ramadhan