RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)‑Indonesia and SalingJaga (Kitabisa) Foundation have launched a collaborative charity trail run, Eco Echo Trail Run 2026, under the theme Every Step Echoes Conservation to combine outdoor sport with public education about ecosystem balance and the future of Indonesia’s wildlife.

Ahead of the main event, the organizers held a media briefing on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Jakarta time at Neo Atrium Central Park Mall 2 in Jakarta, inviting journalists, participants and partner organizations. The run will raise funds and awareness to protect Sumatran elephants (Elephas maximus sumatranus) and support restoration of the Peusangan Landscape in Aceh, Sumatra.

Organizers say the initiative is intended not only as a sporting activity but also as a platform to increase public understanding of why ecosystem balance matters and how local communities and wildlife depend on it. Human population growth requires more space, they note, but preserving ecological balance is essential for civilization to thrive into the future.

“Every step taken by participants is not just a journey to the finish line, but a real contribution to raising the voice for the preservation of the Sumatran elephant’s habitat,” said Director of People and Growth, WWF‑Indonesia Eco Echo Trail Run, Rusyda Deli.

The Peusangan Landscape is recognized as a vital area for Sumatran elephants, serving as habitat and natural movement corridors that support the species’ mobility. Its preservation also helps maintain ecosystem services that benefit surrounding communities.

Through conservation measures and multi‑stakeholder collaboration, protection of the elephants’ habitat is being strengthened to promote harmony between people and wildlife.

Organizers stress that the initiative supports not only species conservation but also sustainable natural resource management and the well‑being of communities living alongside nature. WWF‑Indonesia emphasizes that ecosystem balance becomes visible when the last refuges of the Sumatran elephant are maintained in ways that align with local livelihoods.

“Conservation is not merely an effort to protect endangered species. It is part of maintaining life‑supporting systems that underpin human well‑being. The Sumatran elephant is an umbrella species whose survival reflects the health of Sumatra’s forest ecosystems. When its habitat is conserved, biodiversity, water sources and ecological functions that communities rely on are also protected,” Rusyda said.

The Eco Echo Trail Run adopts a people‑centered campaign approach through running, a popular and growing sport, to link active lifestyles with environmental issues. Organizers hope the event will broaden public engagement, particularly among young people and sports communities.

Participant fees and donations will contribute to Sumatran elephant conservation and efforts to mitigate human‑wildlife conflict. The event exemplifies inclusive, collaborative conservation, bringing together running communities, media, environmental organizations, corporate partners and the general public.

“Eco Echo Trail Run is tangible proof that conservation can be an inclusive movement involving wide public participation. Protecting the Sumatran elephant and its habitat cannot be done by one party alone. Collaboration among communities, the private sector, government and civil society is required to ensure critical landscapes like Peusangan remain secure for wildlife and people who depend on the same environmental services," Rusyda said.

Organizers invite participants to review social impact reports on their contributions at beyondthegame.id, a charity sports platform. Eco Echo Trail Run 2026 will take place on Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Sentul, Bogor Regency, West Java. (Annaila Azzahra-EN)