Nature conservation, culture, and development dynamics in a perspective of Borneo’s local community.

Balikpapan-Heart of Borneo (HoB) Working Group of East Kalimantan, WWF-Indonesia, and Photovoices International, conduct a photo exhibition, book launching, and interactive discussion titled “Self-reflection of Labian Leboyan-Conservation of the Heart of Borneo in a perspective of the local community.”

Featuring photos taken by local photographers living in Borneo’s remote areas, the exhibition in Novotel Balikpapan is part of series of side-events in the 5th HoB Trilateral Meeting. Assistant on Economics and Development of Secretary for East Kalimantan Province, Muhammad Sa’bani will officially open the exhibition. WWF-Indonesia Marine Director Wawan Ridwan is also scheduled to attend the event.

The photos taken by the local photographers in 6 villages in Labian-Leboyan Watershed, a corridor connecting Danau Sentarum National Park and Betung Kerihun National Park, capture the portrait of local community living in the Borneo high biodiversity area, particularly in the key water catchment area in Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan. They also documented the nature condition, traditional and cultural values as well as challenges the people deal with.

The people’s artworks are also compiled in a 151-page book titled “Self-reflection of Lebian Laboyan.” The book will be launched in the first day of the exhibition (20/09). The interactive talkshow is expected to be attended by public, media, and photography community groups and to enlighten that grass-root event. The talkshow is aimed to promote conservation efforts in the Heart of Borneo. Amongst the speakers are a community photography trainer and conservationist from WWF-Indonesia, Jimmy Syahirsyah, President of Photovoices International Ann McBride Norton, Representative from National Geographic Indonesia Bayu Dwi Mardana, Community Representatives from Lebian Leboyan West Kalimantan Marsiana Dayun, from Muara Mea and Berong, Central Kalimantan Jaya Pura and Yotam, and WWF-Indonesia Honorary Supporter Davina Hariadi.

“Community empowerment activities through photography is expected to become an effective media for collective learning amongst communities, local government and other relevant institutions in promoting sustainable natural resources management and protection,” Abang Tambul Husin, Kapuas Hulu District Head said. According to him, those community powerful visual arts are in line with Kapuas Hulu mission as the first Conservation District in Indonesia.

WWF-Indonesia National Coordinator for Heart of Borneo, Wisnu Rusmantoro said that the local community’s aspirations are essential assets to create strategies and policies on sustainable natural resources management, particularly in the Heart of Borneo. “The photovoices project is an effective way to gain more information in an effort to enhance community empowerment and promote sustainable development plan.”

He believes that conservation works and sustainable development efforts which have become core spirit of three-country initiative, Heart of Borneo will be successfully implemented if every development actors are willing to learn from local wisdom and knowledge.

“Understanding the community tradition and belief is crucial to help us in forming sustainable development strategy and protecting the remaining natural resources. Those valuable community artworks are important clues or documents for the governments. In the other hand they are also a progressive channel for public education regarding biodiversities and traditional culture. Furthermore, they may build up solidarity amongst the communities toward mutual understanding, so they can accept cultural diversity as part of our richness,” said President of Photovoices International Ann McBride Norton.

In compliance with the theme of the meeting “Sustainable Tourism: When Nature and Culture Blends”, WWF-Indonesia in a collaboration with Central Kalimantan Culture and Tourism Office and Heart of Borneo Working Group also launch a book about tourism destination in Central Kalimantan titled “The Jewel of Central Borneo.” Produced in two languages (English and Indonesian) , this 157-page book is expected to provide opportunities for the development of ecotourism destinations in the province which have not been broadly exposed.

More information, please contact::

• Saraswati, Coordinator for Photovoices Program in Indonesia, HP: 08124649728, Saraswati@Photovoicesinternational.org Kantor Photovoices Project: Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai No 121X Denpasar-Bali
• Elisabeth Wetik, WWF-Indonesia National Communications Officer, Heart of Borneo Program. Hp: 0813 987 13882, ewetik@wwf.or.id
• Dita Ramadhani, WWF-Indonesia, Hp 082110079992, dramadhani@wwf.or.id
• Nina Nuraisyiah, WWF Indonesia Central Kalimantan Communication Coordinator. Telp ( 0536) 3236997. Email nnuraisyiah@wwf.or.id

Notes to Editor:
About WWF
World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) is a global conservation organization, a network organizations which operates in close to 100 countries worldwide. WWF-Indonesia is a part of this independent foundation, registered under Indonesian law. In carrying out its conservation work, WWF-Indonesia has 25 project offices in 17 provinces. This organization works with local governments through practical field projects, scientific research, advising local governments on environmental policy, promoting environmental education, empowering communities, and raising awareness on environmental issues. More info about WWF, visit www.panda.org; or our local site www.wwf.or.id and WWF-Indonesia supporter website in www.supporterwwf.org

About Heart of Borneo
The ‘Heart of Borneo’ is the only remaining place in South-east Asia that still holds huge tracts of continuous pristine forest. It straddles the transboundary highlands of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia and reaches out through the foothills into the adjacent lowlands. This programme aims to assist Borneo’s three governing nations (Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia) to conserve the Heart of Borneo through a network of protected areas and sustainably managed forest, and through international co-operation led by the Bornean governments. The forests of the Heart of Borneo are some of the most biologically diverse habitats on Earth, possessing staggeringly high endemism levels across all groups of plants and animals. More information, visit: www.wwf.or.id/hob.

About Photovoices International
Photovoices International is an innovative international program that provides cameras and photography training for people to document important issues in their lives like the state of the natural environment, what they value about traditional culture and to record community strengths and challenges.
 
By using simple cameras, photographs and stories, people gain a visual voice at the table and a process to communicate indigenous knowledge and concerns from the grassroots to international organizations, government officials and other making plans for the future.
Visit: www.photovoicesinternational.org.