The Sustainability of Dayak Farming: Debunking the "Post-Truth" Narrative
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| Mochtar Lubis’ research aligns with this, emphasizing that indigenous agricultural practices in Borneo have long fostered ecological balance. Photo credit: Rmsp. |
Archaeological evidence from Niah Cave in present-day Miri, Sarawak, confirms that shifting cultivation and domestication of plants have existed in Borneo for over 10,000 years.
Read Dayak Bukan Berasal dari Yunnan tapi dari Gua Niah: Ini Bukti Ilmiah Uji-karbon 40.000 Tahun Silam
Mochtar Lubis’ research aligns with this, emphasizing that indigenous agricultural practices in Borneo have long fostered ecological balance.
Read
Dr. Yansen TP’s 2018 study further strengthens this argument, showing that Dayak farming not only sustains food security but also encourages biodiversity.
Read Dayak Lundayeh Idi Lun Bawang
Contrary to the widespread misconception that slash-and-burn farming destroys forests, empirical studies reveal that traditional Dayak practices promote soil fertility, support carbon sequestration, and allow forest regeneration through fallow cycles.
These cycles enable secondary forests to thrive, leading to the natural regrowth of hardwood species, medicinal plants, and edible forest products.
Who Is Really Destroying Borneo’s Forests?
The real threat to Borneo’s forests does not come from Dayak farming but from large-scale deforestation and extractive industries driven by corporate greed. The primary culprits include:
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Logging Conglomerates – Multinational timber companies have exploited Borneo’s old-growth forests, clear-cutting vast areas without regard for regeneration. Unlike Dayak farmers, who take only what is needed and allow nature to recover, these companies leave barren landscapes that struggle to regenerate.
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Mining Operations – Across Kalimantan, large-scale mining activities have inflicted widespread environmental destruction. Along the Kapuas River, from its headwaters to its estuary, relentless sand dredging and other extractive industries have severely degraded aquatic ecosystems. Similar devastation is evident in Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, and North Kalimantan, where river mining, coal extraction, and deforestation have permanently altered landscapes, polluted water sources, and displaced indigenous communities. Toxic runoff from mining sites has decimated fish populations, which many Dayak rely on for sustenance.
Modern Industrial Expansion – Infrastructure projects, highways, and urban sprawl have fragmented forests, displacing wildlife and indigenous communities alike. Unlike Dayak agricultural systems, which integrate with natural cycles, modern industries impose irreversible damage.
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Palm Oil Plantations – Large-scale monoculture plantations, often controlled by foreign corporations, have replaced millions of acres of primary and secondary forests. Unlike the diverse, regenerating landscapes of Dayak farmlands, these plantations deplete soil nutrients, increase carbon emissions, and contribute to land conflicts that marginalize local communities.
The Victimization of the Dayak People
Despite being the true guardians of Borneo’s forests, the Dayak people have been systematically blamed, marginalized, and victimized for environmental destruction they did not cause.
Read Who’s Destroying Borneo’s Forests? The Corporate Takeover of Dayak Lands
Large corporations and external interests are the ones driving deforestation and ecological collapse, yet it is the indigenous Dayak who often face accusations of environmental damage.
How could they cut off the very source of their survival? These claims are illogical and ignore the reality on the ground.
The Dayak way of life has always been in harmony with nature, and it is time to challenge the false narratives that attempt to erase indigenous wisdom while absolving those truly responsible for Borneo’s environmental crisis.
The proof lies in Sintang, where Dayak farmers were arrested by state security forces and brought to trial. Yet, the Dayak were simply tending to their own land, while those who arrested them were outsiders. Meanwhile, in Ketapang, local residents were detained simply for cutting wood to build their own homes.
At the same time, corporations, industries, and mining operations were left untouched.
This makes no sense!
- Rangkaya Bada