Riau is a province of Indonesia. It is located on the central eastern coast of the island of Sumatra, and extends from the eastern slopes of the Barisan Mountains to the Malacca Strait, including several large islands situated within the Strait. The total land area is 93,356.32 km² (about the same area as Hungary or the State of Maine), and the population was 5,538,367 at the 2010 census and 6,394,087 at the 2020 census, the official estimate of population as of mid-2024 was 7,007,353. The province comprises ten regencies and two cities, with Pekanbaru serving as the capital and largest city. Riau is one of the wealthiest provinces in Indonesia and is rich in natural resources, particularly petroleum, natural gas, rubber, palm oil and fibre plantations.

Although Riau is predominantly considered as the land of Malays, it is a highly diverse province. In addition to Malays constituting one-third of the population, other major ethnic groups include Javanese, Minangkabau, Batak, and Chinese. The local Riau dialect of Malay language is considered as the lingua franca in the province, but Indonesian, the standardized form of Malay is used as the official language and also as the second language of many people. Other than that, different languages such as Minangkabau, Hokkien and varieties of Batak languages are also spoken.

Pangkalan Kerinci is a town and district in Pelalawan Regency, of Riau province of Indonesia. The town is the administrative capital of Pelalawan Regency. In 1993, Pangkalan Kerinci was a small village in the Sumatran rainforest. During that year, four thousand workers commissioned by Sukanto Tanoto constructed a river port and a large logging mill. At this time, the Pangkalan Kerinci Townsite was home to 200 households; the district population would grow to 106,174 individuals by mid-2023 as APRIL Group's business expanded and diversified, transforming Kerinci into a social and commercial regional hub.

Commercial pulp production commenced in 1995, followed by commercial paper production in 1998. From the beginning, the region's growth would mirror the growth of APRIL Group's operations in Indonesia, with the Pelalawan Regency established in 1999, followed by the establishment of the Pelalawan Kerinci District within the Pelalawan Regency in 2001. In 2010, APRIL Group's forestry operations was measured to contribute 7% of Riau Province's total economic output. APRIL Group has created approximately 90,000 employment opportunities, which when coupled with its initiative to deliver better access to education and social support in areas such as healthcare and housing, has seen improved living standards and a reduction in poverty levels of 30%.

Frontier Sumatra is a compelling and immersive journey into the heart of the Kampar Peninsula in Riau Province, Indonesia—a vast, remote peatland rainforest spanning an area twice the size of Singapore. This documentary brings to life the extraordinary efforts behind Restorasi Ekosistem Riau (RER), a groundbreaking initiative that brings together local communities, dedicated scientists, and forward-thinking industry partners in a unified mission to safeguard one of the planet’s most vital yet overlooked ecosystems. Through the lens of courageous rangers, passionate researchers, and committed forest managers, viewers are taken deep into one of Southeast Asia’s last great peat forests. The film reveals the hidden wonders of this rich and largely unexplored landscape, introduces the rare and remarkable wildlife that inhabits it, and captures the challenges and triumphs of those striving to protect this fragile ecosystem for generations to come.

Indonesia uses type C and type F power outlets. The country’s standard voltage is 230V, with a frequency of 50 Hz. For visitors carrying appliances built for 100V or 110V, using an appropriate adapter or voltage converter is essential to prevent electrical damage.