Since 2008, Diana Kosmantot has held various roles in our sister foundation YEL. She has focused on nature conservation, partnerships, fundraising and the development of initiatives that combine conservation with sustainable livelihoods. She has been a member of YEL’s management team since 2016. It is based at the foundation’s headquarters in Medan, Sumatra.

What path did you take to start working at YEL?

I joined YEL in 2008 as part of the education and outreach team. From there, I gradually became more involved in different areas of the organisation’s work, particularly in finding ways to connect conservation with people and long-term sustainability. Over the years, my role and responsibilities have continued to grow together with the organisation.

Why are you dedicating your professional life and your energy to YEL’s purpose in Indonesia?

Because I believe conservation can only work in the long term if it also makes sense for the people who live around these landscapes. Protecting orangutans and forests is of course at the heart of our work, but it is also about creating opportunities for local communities and building systems that can last beyond individual projects or funding cycles. That combination is what keeps me committed.

YEL and PanEco are «sister foundations.» What does that mean to you?

For me, it means that although we are two independent organisations in two different countries, we are working toward the same purpose. There is a long history, a lot of trust, and also a shared responsibility for the work we have built together over the years.

What makes our collaboration particularly valuable, and what have we learned from each other?

The value is that we bring different perspectives and strengths. YEL is very close to the realities on the ground in Indonesia, while PanEco brings experience, networks, fundraising capacity, and an international perspective. Over the years, I think we have learned a great deal from each other – not only about conservation, but also about how to work across cultures, institutions, and different ways of seeing things. Sometimes that also means challenging each other, which can be important.»

What motivates you to persevere through the rather slow processes in nature and species conservation and to always look ahead?

Conservation is rarely fast. Forests take time to recover, orangutans take many years to rehabilitate, and changes in communities or institutions do not happen overnight. What motivates me is seeing the small results accumulate: a forest area better protected, a farmer having a stronger livelihood, an orangutan getting another chance, or a partnership that continues to grow. Those are the things that remind me that even slow progress is still progress.

Come and meet Diana Kosmanto in person on November 12th at our panel discussion, «30 Years of Orangutan Conservation in Sumatra»! (englisch spoken)