Southeast Asia’s rainforests are losing biodiversity and cultural identity due to deforestation and modernization. In West Borneo, Sanggau regency is among the most affected areas, with 58 percent of tree cover loss in the province between 2001 and 2023. Local wisdom tied to forest preservation, such as the Dayak Taba Tribe’s Amot rituals and land management systems like Tembawang and Rimba Gupung, is fading.
To address this, Lingkar Temu Kabupaten Lestari (LTKL) and Jagarawat are working with youth communities like Samudra Bekudong’k to document and promote cultural traditions through film. Aqil Noviandri, 24, leads the initiative to reconnect Sanggau’s younger generation with their heritage, highlighting the role of local wisdom in environmental sustainability.
Through mentorship, the group produced documentaries such as Amoth: Ritual Adat Nyeser and Penjaga Hutan Adat Tae, which show how communities protect customary forests and sustainably harvest resources like tengkawang. These works have been featured in film festivals, building pride and advocacy for cultural and environmental preservation.
By combining cultural storytelling with conservation themes, Sanggau’s youth are creating a movement that raises awareness and inspires action. Film has become both a preservation tool and a bridge between tradition and the future.
