A Glimmer of Hope, Protection of Dayak Youth’s Love for Indigenous Territories and Natural Resources

Binua Labai Rawai, Toba District, Sanggau Regency

The government enthusiastically uses the phrase Millennial Youth, Gen Z, and others, hoping that in the hands of the youth agents of change will emerge towards a more advanced Indonesia in all fields. It has been seen how the role of youth in various aspects, even though in the world of politics and policy it is still controlled by the “old man” who is still strong in their fields even though they are already in their 60s.

The Ministry of Agriculture has high hopes for youth who are involved in advancing agriculture in both urban and rural areas. There have been youths who have won awards in agriculture. However, no youth has yet received an award in the environmental, natural resource-saving, and socio-political fields. There is no award in this field because youth are considered to criticize government policies. Meanwhile, many youths are included in strategic studies by giving constructive criticism to the government for exploitative development policies. Even in its current implementation, young people must be more careful in criticizing the government and government institutions, because there is already a threat article in the Criminal Code (KUHP) which has just been ratified by the government. 

Political dynamics have given birth to policies that are quite horrific, but they have not reduced the desire of indigenous youth groups in Binua Labai Rawai, Toba District, Sanggau Regency who are in Kampung Baru Village, Teraju Village (Mungguk Pasir Hamlet), Bagan Asam Village and Sansat Village to learn to map, and identification of natural resources. Then proceed with building a joint agreement in an effort to preserve their customary territories which are still with their forest areas.

So, it’s grateful that traditional and village leaders are held by young people who have a desire for a better change, for their indigenous peoples. Starting with general knowledge of central government policies contained in several laws and regulations on climate change, in which the central government agrees to prevent an increase in the earth’s temperature below 1.5 degrees Celsius. Then the impacts of climate change will be felt or have been felt by indigenous peoples and indigenous youth. So then how to collaborate on the protection and preservation of indigenous territories in achieving the SDGs. Of course, this is not easy, it takes a long process and time. But there is no word of giving up. That statement came out of a statement from an indigenous youth named Jack.

Teraju Indonesia Documents: Deforestation and Soil Degradation.

The Impact Of Environmental Damage

The impact in this case is the forest in their customary territory, they have also felt it. Increasingly hot temperatures, crop failures, soil damage resulting from the exploitation of bauxite mining, and floods over time threaten their villages. In addition to environmental impacts, concerns over the loss of natural resources have been undermined by extractive investments. Then it could be re-exploited at any time which would lead to environmental and economic damage to indigenous peoples. The impact of climate change that we get from outsiders that damages customary territories can be seen in the following figure.

Teraju Indonesia Document: Floods in Kampung Baru Village October 2022

Indigenous Youth Activities

Youth people with basic knowledge of forests agreed to carry out training on mapping and identifying their natural resources. Therefore, mapping education and identification of natural resources in their customary territories are carried out. The mapping and identification that the indigenous people did were not easy, they had to cross the Kapuas sub-watershed with the threat of swamp crocodiles. However, this did not discourage them from exploring their forested customary territories. Staying in the forest armed with enough food, still with the same enthusiasm they took the coordinates of the boundary markers for their customary territories which they would later put up area signs for.

Teraju Indonesia Documents; Mapping Training.

Teraju Indonesia Document: Taking Boundary Marks of Indigenous Territories

Results of Mapping Indigenous Areas in Kampung Baru Village

Table of Areas of Customary Forests in Customary Territories in Kampung Baru Village

Based on the results of field mapping carried out by young people, data on the areas of their customary territories that are still forested are obtained. The area of customary forest in Kampung Baru Village as a whole is 3,411 hectares. Meanwhile, the total area for settlements and community land is 12,818 hectares. Apart from that, young people also map and document historical places such as old villages, and sacred places and also identify the biodiversity in their customary territories.

Not only the forest area, but the indigenous youth also identified the types of fish in their area. This is done because several indigenous Dayak communities or indigenous youth live in the Kapuas Watershed (DAS) and the Kapuas Sub-DAS. From the results of the identification of river fish, there are 32 types of fish in their river. the identification they did by observing village fish cages and asking parents and paying attention to the presence of baby fish in the smallest sub-watershed.

The existence of Kelapuk Hamlet and Tanjung Jangan Hamlet in the Kapuas River area is one of the benefits for the community. People who are used to activities on the river often spend their free time fishing. Fishing usually uses nets (trawl) in the Kapuas River. The types of fish that are often found by the community are as follows.

Teraju Indonesia Document: Youth in Tanjung Jangan

Table of Fish Types in Kelapuk Hamlet and Tanjung Jangan Hamlet

Discussions and meetings have been held several times with young people and village officials who happen to be young people. Future plans in 2023 they agreed to map all agricultural land and identify agricultural production that has been or will be managed by the community, both hard farming such as rubber, oil palm, and fruit trees, as well as food crops. Producing water filters for settlements where there are indications that the water has been polluted. In addition, they will also plant endemic trees on degraded riverbanks and other areas. In the same year, together with young people, we will develop a work plan to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs, especially the economic, environmental, and public health aspects. 

This is important in agricultural and fishery production based on agroforestry, which is cultivated directly in post-production. So that people get more value from production. When that happens, we believe that the environmental sustainability of forests and water will be maintained. In addition, the productivity of agriculture and fisheries based on agroforestry can be a part of indigenous community-based natural tourism, in this case, which is managed by indigenous youth. So that the big dream of the government and the people of Indonesia is to reduce the rate of climate change, where indigenous youth as the driving force can reduce the gradual increase in the earth’s temperature.

The sake of realizing dreams born of young people’s ideas is part of the government’s desire regarding the role of young people in development. Therefore, the cooperation of all parties is very much needed, especially the role of the government with its political policies to be able to evaluate all permits for extractive companies that lead to poverty and environmental damage. So that the evaluation can stop the granting of the permit. Then give full trust to indigenous peoples, especially young people in managing sustainable and sustainable natural resources. So the dreams and promises that have been conveyed by the government to the International World can be realized, not just empty messages. Sovereignty over natural resources and increasing knowledge as well as strong and clear support is one of the efforts towards change and better progress.

Teraju, Benua Labai Lawai

Said, S.Hut