Bridging Cultures in Rebuilding Forests

Hi everyone! We’re excited to share the latest updates from our restoration efforts. Today, we bring you the stories of the hands-on heroes behind our reforestation projects: the local communities of West Kalimantan! Our partners from Desa Rumbih, West Kalimantan, are the heart of our mission.

Through our collaboration, we aim to restore forests while empowering the local communities, guided by the Community Capacity Curve framework (John Herbohn, et al., 2023). In this update, we’ll break down our collaboration and how we improve and fulfill the various assets for the communities of Desa Rumbih.

??? Land and livelihood

Our collaboration with local communities starts with 'renting' their lands for reforestation purposes. Recognizing that land ownership is crucial for community empowerment, we help our partners gain legal ownership if they don't have it yet, contributing to their political assets. These licenses not only provide them with more security over their lands, but it also serves as a measure to ensure permanence of our restoration program.

On these lands, we plant various high-value vegetation, and when the plants produce fruits, the harvests belong to our partners — creating a sustainable source of income and food for the community. This initiative enhances their financial assets by providing direct monthly payments and opportunities for savings growth. Additionally, it maximizes carbon absorption and regenerate biodiversity, supporting their natural assets by fostering a healthier, more stable ecosystem!

?? Cultivating skills and traditions

To ensure the success of our reforestation projects, our field team assists our partners in reviving their reforestation skills, integrating indigenous knowledge and sustainable planting techniques. By blending modern practices with local traditions, we enhance our restoration efforts while respecting and valuing cultural heritage, supporting their social and cultural assets.

?? Internal insights

To better understand our partner's daily activities and how Bumiterra's program impacts them, we conducted in-depth interviews. Here's what we learned:

Education and Job Opportunities: No significant difference in access between men and women, but both are limited to almost non-existent in Desa Rumbih. Through Sekolah Bumiterra , we’re working to bridge this gap by providing funding and essential materials to support educational opportunities for the community.

Monetary Impact:

• Short-term: Monthly monetary and rice incentives from Bumiterra provide reliable support.
• Mid to long-term: Anticipation of fruit harvesting from their own fields.

Empowerment Impact:

• Direct employment offers alternatives to paddy farming, rubber farming, and irregular weeding.
• Partners show a strong sense of ownership towards the fields they tend.

Setelah bergabung dengan Bumiterra amat sangat meringankan, dengan keuntungan yang didapatkan sangat membantu untuk membiayai biaya sekolah anak-anak saya. Selain itu juga saya sangat senang karena secara tidak langsung saya juga dapat berkontribusi untuk menyelamatkan dan melestarikan lingkungan tempat saya tinggal, mempersiapkan sehingga nanti anak cucu saya bisa memanen buah tanpa harus membeli atau bahkan bisa menjadi pemasukan mereka di masa mendatang.

- Anastasia Pina, Bumiterra's Partner

?? Looking ahead...

The local community in Desa Rumbih is integral to the success of our restoration program. Their deep understanding of the ecosystem and cultural traditions are invaluable assets in preserving not just the forests, but the very soul of West Kalimantan.

We have set a target to start measuring more metrics from the other community capacity assets in the second quarter of 2024, focusing on long-term impacts including improved education. With limited educational facilities in Desa Rumbih, we aim to enhance education in the area, supporting their human assets. Currently, we are raising funds and allocating 5% of Bumiterra's profits to Sekolah Bumiterra , our non-profit providing quality and accessible education to all -- follow our Instagram to learn more!

By continuously working towards these goals, we hope to build a resilient and prosperous future for the local communities in West Kalimantan. We are committed to empowering our partners and working hand in hand to achieve our common goals of environmental sustainability and community well-being.

Thank you for reading and supporting our mission. Sharing more updates next month, follow our newsletter to stay in the loop!