Tis study focuses on the habitat where the charismatic, but criti- cally endangered Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) lives. It offers an overview of the many ecosystem services that the Sumatran orangutan’s forest habitat provides and how estimates for revenue from payments for ecosystem services schemes such as REDD compare with revenue from other land use scenarios. Te report also aims to highlight the strong link that exists between biodi- versity, ecosystem services and human-well being to raise aware- ness and to seek more careful management of natural resources.
Te case of the Sumatran orangutan serves as a useful exam- ple to illustrate how the fate of one of our nearest relatives is closely tied to ours. By focusing on two specific areas in north- ern Sumatra the report highlights the fact that the conservation of Sumatran orangutan habitat will not only save this species, currently on the brink of extinction, but will also protect an area of extremely high biodiversity, that provides both locally and globally important ecosystem services and holds the potential for long-term sustainable economic growth (Map 1).