The Leuser International Foundation (LIF) was founded on 23 July 1994 by the Notarial Deed No 75 of notary Chufran Hamal,SH. The foundation, most of whose senior members (trustees) are respected leaders from Aceh and North Sumatra, has a 30-year mandate through Presidential Decree (Kepres 33/1998) to implement the management of the Leuser Ecosystem.

The main objectives of the foundation are to implement the management of the Leuser Ecosystem and to maintain its contiguity and biodiversity to the fullest extent. This in turn will ensure that the environmental services that flow from the Leuser Ecosystem, such as a regular supply of water, will continue to be maintained for the benefit of the populations that live around it.

To achieve this lofty goal the LIF has had to use its influence in achieving several major objectives:

Fauna and flora international is an International Conservation Organization, with eadquarters in Cambridge, UK. FFI began supporting the Indonesia Government in biodiversity Conservation in 1995, through biological research and then capacity building support, through an MoU with LIPI.

At the project level FFI collaborates with the nature Conservation Department, local communities, civil society organization and government agencies focusing on strengthening and the local capacity of local partners in species conservation, protected area management and sustainable natural resource management in Indonesia. Current activities focus on Sundaland region (Sumatera and Kalimantan), where FFI is supporting conservation of key species - tigers, elephants, orang utan - and their habitat both within and outside protection area.