The involvement of local youth and the Indigenous community in restoration efforts has a powerful social and environmental implication, as they are in the frontline guarding their territory. The connection between young people and their local natural environment creates feelings of ownership, dedication, and motivation to protect the land and forest. This connection will encourage them to have a lifetime dedication and commitment to the long-run restoration movement. For this reason, Youth Act Kalimantan designed a new leadership program for young people, which is called The Rise of Kalimantan Green Warriors. This is the part of The Heartland Project, a collective effort to restore the forests and peatland ecosystem through youth movement.
JOURNEY BEGAN
The journey started in the beginning of March with a call for application. Fifty-one young people from across three provinces in Kalimantan sent the applications. By first round of selection, twenty participants from six regencies were selected to join Eco Tour to a local peatland conservation and research center in Repeat Tumbang Nusa on March 23rd. Together with Banjarbaru Environment and Forestry Research Institute (LITBANG Banjarbaru), we provided an educational tour to participants so they could learn about peatland and its ecosystem.The Eco-tour was led by Purwanto Budi Santosa and Budi Hermawan senior researchers and manager of Repeat Tumbang Nusa. They introduced the ecosystem, peat soil characteristics, endemic trees in peatland, seedling process, and restoration effort.
Search for shoe trapped inside the peat soil.
Since there was a heavy rainy season, the access to the location of tree planting was very challenging. Deep and wet peat made it difficult to move. However, the whole experience was worth of it. It’s a first time and meaningful experience for most of the participants as they never got a chance to explore the peat forests. In this location, we planted one hundred trees. This area is where we run our tree planting program since 2019. Between 1997 and 2018, half of the 5,000 hectares (19.3 square miles) area was burned, resulting in massive habitat loss. Since 2019, Youth Act Kalimantan has helped to plant more than 1,000 trees in the area. However, this is only the beginning, as 76% of the damage is still to be repaired.
"I drown and nearly lost my shoe when I tried to walk across the wet and spongy peat. I also saw the impact of forest fire on the peatland ecosystem. It was very heartbreaking. This was a meaningful experience for me because I never visited peatland before. I also learned about youth movement and leadership. This experience inspired me to start a green movement in my school", said 16 years-old Carolina Eviva Laurenza, a president of students’ council of St Petrus Kanisius High School Palangka Raya.
This one day tour ended with a lot of positive energy and excitement. These guys were ready to make a change.
FOREST, PEOPLE & LIVELIHOOD: Green Camp in Talekoi village
On April 9th-11th, four young people who made it to the final stage of The Rise of Kalimantan Green Warriors program went to Talekoi village and stayed there for three days and two nights. The location was 200km from Palangkaraya city. Riding two motorbikes, they went through some challenging road and path before they arrived in the village.
Fikri, Ayu, Zulul and Andi were not newcomers in this kind of activities. Fikri is a member of rescue team who have more than a 3 year of experience working in the disaster areas. Ayu have actively involved in charity and a clean-action movement. Zulul is an adventurer and spend most of his time on road and traveling besides studying in university, while Andi is that kind of smart guy who always has a critical way of thinking regarding social and environmental problems. Still, they found the live-in experience in Talekoi touched their hearts to the deep within, as they came with a mission: making a change in the communities.
Andi, Fikri, Ayu and Zulul arrived at Log Pond which was located ten minutes from the village.
Together with the locals, the total of eight young people collaborated for an observation, research, tour, interview, documentation about the theme we gave, which was LIVELIHOOD. They explored the village and its forests, talked to the Dayak elders and villagers, joined some activities and at the end, made a note of reflection.
Andi who was so sad after the first view of logs that he saw when he first arrived, shared her thought. "When I visited the Kelulut beekeeping (stingless bee), I was awestruck. This is a great example of sustainable livelihood. I think it is important for creating more grassroots livelihood initiatives. During our journey to this village, I saw many trucks of a logging company carried big logs. It was sad. I was wondering if are there other livelihood options in the village," said Andi.
Fikri and 200 years old Ironwood Tree Mother
The Green Warriors also had the opportunity to visit our local tree seedling nursery. Guided by Paresto, a tree seedling expert, they learned how to make the seedling of sungkai tree (Peronema canescens) and tawudien or ironwood tree (Eusideroxylon zwagerior) seedling process. Paresto’s explanation really caught Fikri’s attention. "It was my first time to see an ancient ironwood tree. I was very amazed by the marvelous side of this 200 years old tree and its value for the Talekoi community," said Fikri, an 18 years-old youth from East Kotawaringin Regency.
Ardi, one of the local youth from Talekoi village also said, "Although I was born and raised in Talekoi village, I never heard the historical story of this Ironwood tree. I am happy that now and I understand the meaning of this tree for my village. I will protect this valuable tree."
Of course, the new knowledge was not all that they got. The camp was designed by mentors to touch not only head, but also heart. The director of Ranu Welum, Emmanuela Shinta, gave the Green Warriors mission to make a next action plan based on their own expertise. Under the guidance of Sumarni and Gusti who were the mentors for field activities, the Green Warriors made a list of problems about livelihood and thought about solutions. Zulul, who was so interested in tourism seeing an opportunity.
Zulul learned how to weave a traditional basket from local weaver, Ineh Hayang.
“This village has so much potential. The Ironwood can be a landmark of this village, then its history as the oldest village in South Barito regency also can be a branding. The lake is beautiful and forests are so green. If we do it well and step by step, I believe this village can start an eco-tourism and generate a new source of income,” Zulul explained.
Meanwhile Ayu, who was the only woman among the participants, thought another way. She cried her heart and tears during the night sharing with the villagers. “I felt so heavy in my heart. People deserve to live better. They deserve to enjoy what the nature have given to them. I also believe we can do something to create new sources of income for villagers. Maybe some home products?” As a social media figure with more than 70K followers, Ayu made a promise to help in publication.“I will do what I can do to raise more awareness about environmental problems here and also to promote the village’ business,“ she ensured.
GRADUATION
If we expect for better tomorrow, we should start by today. With these new generation of green leaders, we believe that the change is just a distant.
By the virtual graduation on 22nd April, these young people are officially becoming Kalimantan Green Warriors. They will also be the ambassadors who will represent Youth Act movement and bring the voices from Kalimantan to global audience through national and international forum, leading the campaigns, educating their friends and standing at the frontline of environmental battle. Therefore, we know that being a Kalimantan Green Warrior is not merely a title; it’s a responsibility.
First Generation of Kalimantan Green Warriors, ready to act!
Written by Emmanuela Shinta, Sumarni Laman