The Hearts of Borneo: Where and Why Is It Called That?

The map of the region, The Hearts of Borneo. Doc. Formadat.

The "Hearts of Borneo" refers to a region nestled deep within the heart of Borneo Island, straddling the borders of Malaysia and Indonesia. This highland area includes several significant regions:

Kecamatan Krayan and Krayan Selatan in North Kalimantan, Indonesia. Bario (also known as the Kelabit Highlands), Ba'Kelalan, and Semadoh Panjang in Sarawak, Malaysia; Ulu Padas in Sabah, Malaysia.

Culturally unified despite political borders

Despite being administratively divided between Malaysia and Indonesia, the people living here share a strong cultural and linguistic heritage. The primary communities in this highland area include the Lundayeh/Lun Bawang, Kelabit, and Sa'ban.

In Bakalan and Long Semadoh, the population is around 2,914 people, with the majority being Lun Bawang, the largest ethnic group in the region. This area sits at about 3,000 feet above sea level in a highland section known as Maligan. It borders Krayan (Indonesia), Bario, and Ulu Padas.

Ba'Kelalan, the closest and easiest access point from Malaysia to Krayan. The main economic activities in Ba'Kelalan include rice cultivation with an irrigation system, particularly growing varieties such as adan rice and others, as well as buffalo farming. 

The area is also known for its apple orchards—the only type of apple grown in Malaysia—as well as salt ponds and grassland forests with distinctive plants like orchids, rhododendrons, and pitcher plants.

Ba'Kelalan has become a well-developed ecotourism destination in Sarawak, offering unique travel experiences with breathtaking natural landscapes and rich biodiversity.

Ecologically vital, culturally rich

The Hearts of Borneo is not just an ecologically important area but also rich in cultural and historical significance. 

Virgin forests still dominate this highland region, which enjoys bright weather, although it is often shrouded in mist, with a fresh and occasionally chilly climate. 

During the dry season, temperatures can drop to as low as 8 degrees Celsius. 

The forests here play a crucial role in maintaining local climate stability and mitigating global climate change. 

The major rivers originating from this region are vital sources of life for both Malaysia and Indonesia.

--  FeliciaTesalonika