With the support of the Indigenous Education Foundation (IEF), we began the journey of building an ecological learning center in the middle of the Tangkiling Peat Forest—a long-held mission we have dreamed of to become an education center about peatlands for Indigenous communities and the young generation of Kalimantan.
The process of building this ecological center was not only exhausting but also full of challenges. From the city of Palangkaraya, we traveled about 45 minutes to the location, passing through sandy and bumpy roads and a small bridge that could only be crossed by one car. However, the real challenge began when we had to walk to the gazebo construction site.
From the roadside, we walked 400 meters through peatland soaked in water, some parts reaching above our knees. Lifting our feet from the suction of the peat was very tiring. Our feet sank slowly, sometimes up to our waist. We no longer wore footwear, which would have added to the burden of the wood we carried.
The gazebo we were building required strong wooden boards. Each board we carried was very heavy, with a length of 4 meters. These boards had to be carried one by one through the muddy peat soil, where every step could cause us to sink deeper. We carried the load on our shoulders because there was no other option. Each back-and-forth trip became more difficult, especially when it rained and the peat soil became even deeper.
In these conditions, each person could only carry one board per trip. In a day, only four to five boards could be transported. This was not only about building a shelter, but also our mission to create a place to learn about peatlands.
When installing the wooden poles, we estimated the depth of the peat to be around one meter. However, when the poles had already sunk 1.5 meters and the ground still felt soft, we realized that the peat here was deeper than expected. This is land that stores billions of tons of carbon, but it burned in 2015. Today, vegetation is sparse, and the land is still in the process of recovery.
Adit, the team leader of Katuyung Firefighter and person in charge of Peatland Ecology Center
Over some time, we worked gradually to build this gazebo, sometimes halted by sudden rain. Every piece of wood that needed to be installed required extra effort so it wouldn’t sink into the peat soil. This hut is not only a resting area, but also a center for youth to learn and get to know the peatland ecosystem more closely.
In this peat forest, hundreds of young people have come, planted trees, and witnessed how nature heals itself. The trees we planted last year have now reached a height of 2–3 meters. A simple achievement, but extraordinary for us.
We want young people to see and feel how peat forests play a role in protecting the Earth. Global warming is not just a theory, but a reality we must fight together. We involve youth in every step of ecological development so that the younger generation continues to protect and care for it for a better future.
Our deepest appreciation to the Indigenous Education Foundation (IEF) and Global Landscape Forum (GLF), that have become key partners in supporting Indigenous education and the preservation of the peatland ecosystem through this initiative. Their support has become the foundation for the presence of a living learning space in the midst of land that continues to struggle to recover.
story by Sarasi Silvester