Repurposing Chainsaws In Indonesia
Since 2017, Health In Harmony, along with Indonesian partner Alam Sehat Lestari (ASRI), has worked with local community members to action the Chainsaw Buyback program. This innovative program supports those wishing to give up illegal logging in seeking alternative livelihoods that do not damage the forest.
“At that time, I didn’t consider the negative impact of cutting down trees in the forest. Now, the consequences are evident. The air temperature feels hotter, the dry season is shorter, and obtaining clean water has become challenging. If the mountains here become bare, we will be in trouble. I have since started a new job as a gardener and completely abandoned the practice of cutting down trees in the forest. I don’t want my son to repeat my mistakes.”
As CNN recently reported, farmers driven to illegally log in the forest for their livelihoods are given around $200 for their chainsaws, as well as up to $450 in financial support to set up an alternative, sustainable livelihood, such as opening a shop, organic farming and even beekeeping.
Now, the program is evolving in exciting new ways. With support from ASRI, community members in Sudakana, Indonesia are turning their disused chainsaw engines, guide bars and chains into tools for organic farming.
In the photos below, you can see how chainsaw parts are upcycled into machetes and other harvesting equipment – proving that with the right mindset, even the most unexpected materials can support a positive impact for the planet.
Generally, a chainsaw can be divided into three main parts; the engine, guide bar and chain. Collaborating with local workshops, community members are turning the engines from chainsaws into cultivators and chaff-cutting machines, by adding in parts such as wheels and blades.
In 2023, a total of 33 chainsaws were handed in as part of the Chainsaw Buyback program in Indonesia, while in 2024, 93 new individuals enrolled in the Chainsaw Buyback program.
To learn more about Chainsaw Buyback, read the article on CNN, and to support the program, visit our donations page.