Medicinal Plants in the Borneo Rainforest: An Unmatched Ecotourism Attraction

Various medicinal plants in the Borneo rainforest. Photo: Author's documentation.

Borneo, the third largest island in the world, holds endless riches. One of those million treasures is medicinal plants. 

The Dayak people, the first nation of Borneo, have been using these plants for healing and everyday health for decades. So, what medicinal plants are we talking about?

There will come a time when Borneo's medicinal plants will face devastating extinction.

Why? The fragile ecosystem is disrupted by massive land clearing for plantations. However, the most severe impact comes from destructive mining activities.

Recovery of biodiversity

The damage is so extensive that recovering it in the short term seems almost impossible. It will take an incredibly long time to restore the lost biodiversity and bring back the disturbed balance of nature.

For now, while they still exist, we must act. Because someday, they may only be a story. It won’t just be difficult to see them in their natural habitat; even images will be hard to come by, much like reading and hearing about prehistoric animals.

In the Jangkang region of Sanggau, West Kalimantan, many elders are referred to as “dukun.” This term doesn’t mean helping with childbirth or practicing black magic. Instead, it is a title given to someone with the talent for healing, using traditional herbal remedies.

As more land is converted to palm oil plantations, the ecosystem is increasingly disrupted. Along with this, natural medicinal plants are becoming rarer and harder to find. Thus, restoring environmental sustainability and the return of biodiversity has become a critical agenda. At the very least, the Dayak people who still possess land can turn it into conservation areas.

Collaboration between health clinics and traditional Dayak healers

It’s not surprising that local health clinics still seek the help of traditional Dayak healers for diseases that are undetectable or cannot be treated medically. Typically, these healers are the ones who provide a cure.

There’s no real magic involved; the healing properties of these herbs have yet to be scientifically studied.

While some might believe in the power of incantations, that’s not the main focus. The real essence lies in the herbs themselves.

A few notable medicinal plants

Let’s familiarize ourselves with some of these medicinal plants.

- Yellow root water for treating stomach aches.

- Red forest taro (to eliminate venom from animal bites); forest grass (for itching).

- Jerangau is known for controlling or stopping poisoning.

- Young leaves (of simpur, cengkodok, laban) can be chewed and applied to stop bleeding from wounds; the flower of the soil/tai cacing can also be used.

Sustainability of medicinal plants in Borneo

Despite the significant challenges facing medicinal plants in Borneo, there is still hope for sustainability. Awareness of the importance of biodiversity is growing, and various initiatives are emerging to preserve these increasingly rare plants. 

Conservation programs involving local communities, including the Dayak people, are crucial for safeguarding traditional knowledge and the diversity of medicinal plants.

By engaging traditional healers and herbal experts in ecosystem recovery efforts, centuries-old knowledge can be harnessed to develop effective solutions. For instance, the introduction of conservation lands by the Dayak community not only protects medicinal plants but also serves as an educational resource for future generations about the significance of native flora and fauna.

Campaigns to raise awareness of the importance of medicinal plants must also be promoted. Through collaboration between government bodies, NGOs, and local communities, programs can emerge to facilitate scientific research on the healing properties of these plants, allowing traditional knowledge to be integrated with modern science. 

With these steps, we can not only conserve Borneo's medicinal plants but also honor the cultural heritage that has existed for generations, ensuring that future generations can benefit from this remarkable biodiversity.

The sustainability of medicinal plants in Borneo is not just about protecting endangered species; it's also about maintaining the bond between humans and nature. It involves respecting the traditional practices that have sustained local communities for thousands of years.

-- Herys Maliki