The Dayak people's fields are environmentally friendly. Deforestation in Borneo is caused by miners, industries, and large-scale corporate palm oil plantations. Photo credit: Eremespe.

🌍 PONTIANAK | BORNEOTRAVEL:  The lush green of Borneo’s forests marks the settlements of the Dayak people —guardians of the land who have lived in harmony with nature for centuries. 

In stark contrast, the bald patches on satellite imagery reveal industrial sites, mining operations, and sprawling palm oil plantations that encroach upon their ancestral lands. 

This unfolding battle is more than just a struggle for territory. It is a fight for identity, survival, and the preservation of one of the world's oldest living cultures.

The Dayak and Their Fields: A Way of Life Under Siege

For the Dayak, the land is not just a resource—it is life itself. Their shifting cultivation method, often misunderstood, is an integral part of an ecological cycle that has sustained them for generations. The practice of allowing fields to lie fallow enables the land to regenerate naturally. When the rains return, what was once ash-covered soil bursts back into green, yielding rice, vegetables, and medicinal plants.

Yet, while Dayak fields are scrutinized, the real threat remains unchecked. The scars left by extractive industries—open-pit mines, deforested plots, and mercury-laden waters—can take 50 to 100 years to heal. Unlike the controlled burning of Dayak farming, industrial destruction leaves behind irreversible damage. The question remains: why is the world so quick to blame the Dayak while multinational corporations continue their devastation with impunity?

Dayak Fields and the Promise of Ethno-Tourism

Farming is more than a means of survival—it is the beating heart of Dayak culture. In an era of increasing ecological awareness, this indigenous knowledge presents an untapped opportunity: ethno-tourism. Visitors seeking authentic experiences could witness firsthand how the Dayak people have mastered the balance between cultivation and conservation.

The Dayak population, estimated at no less than 8 million worldwide, is divided into seven major linguistic and cultural groups, further comprising 405 sub-ethnicities spread across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam. This diversity offers a rich cultural tapestry that, if preserved and promoted, could redefine sustainable tourism in Borneo.

This potential, however, hinges on a fundamental shift in perspective. Rather than being sidelined by conservation policies that alienate them from their own lands, the Dayak should be positioned as partners in preservation. Indigenous-led tourism initiatives could not only provide economic sustainability but also serve as powerful educational tools, countering misinformation about their environmental practices.

The Post-Truth Era: How the Dayak Became the Scapegoats of Deforestation

The global narrative around Borneo’s deforestation has cast the Dayak people in an unfair light. Repeated accusations suggest that their traditional farming methods contribute to the destruction of the rainforest. This is not just misleading—it is historically inaccurate.

For over 10,000 years, the Dayak have cultivated their land without causing large-scale degradation. 

The true culprits—illegal logging, aggressive mining operations, and palm oil expansion—continue to operate with impunity, their ecological footprint far exceeding anything the Dayak could ever leave behind. 

Satellite imagery confirms this: while indigenous fields blend seamlessly back into the forest, industrial land grabs leave permanent scars.

Correcting this misconception is not just a matter of justice; it is essential for shaping policies that actually address the root causes of environmental collapse. 

Without an accurate understanding of who is truly responsible, conservation efforts will remain misguided, and the destruction of Borneo’s forests will continue unchecked. The fate of the Dayak is intertwined with the fate of the rainforest itself. Whether the world chooses to listen will determine whether both survive.

Debunking the Myth: Dayak Farmers Are Not the Destroyers of Borneo’s Forests

The Dayak people's traditional farming practices are deeply rooted in sustainability and environmental harmony. Their methods, such as shifting cultivation (ladang berpindah), are often misunderstood by outsiders but are, in fact, designed to allow the land to regenerate naturally. Unlike large-scale agricultural enterprises, Dayak farmers do not clear vast areas of forest indiscriminately. Instead, they rotate their fields, giving previously used land time to recover, maintaining biodiversity, and preserving the delicate ecological balance of Borneo.

The real drivers of deforestation in Borneo are industrial-scale activities such as mining, logging, and corporate palm oil plantations. These industries clear massive tracts of rainforest, often through uncontrolled burning and heavy machinery, leading to soil degradation, loss of wildlife habitats, and disruption of indigenous communities. While Dayak farmers cultivate their land with respect for nature, these large corporations prioritize profit over environmental conservation, accelerating the destruction of one of the world's most critical ecosystems.

This widespread deforestation has severe consequences, not only for the environment but also for the Dayak people themselves. As forests disappear, so do the natural resources that have sustained indigenous communities for generations. Traditional food sources, medicinal plants, and sacred sites are vanishing, pushing many Dayak families toward urban areas in search of new livelihoods. 

To combat this, there must be greater recognition and protection of indigenous land rights, alongside stricter regulations on destructive industries. The world must acknowledge that the true guardians of Borneo’s forests are not corporations but the Dayak people, who have coexisted with nature for centuries.

This distortion of reality is what we call "post-truth"—a deliberate attempt to construct a narrative that falsely blames the Dayak people's traditional farming for deforestation and environmental destruction in Borneo. In reality, their ladang system has existed for over 10,000 years, long before modern industries arrived, yet the island remained lush and intact. It was only when large-scale extractive industries—mining, logging, and corporate palm oil plantations—began their relentless expansion that Borneo's forests faced unprecedented destruction. 

The attempt to scapegoat indigenous farming is not only misleading but also serves to divert attention from the real culprits: powerful corporations and policies that prioritize economic gain over ecological sustainability.

-- Masri Sareb Putra