What we are doing
We are establishing a not-for-profit Foundation - Permakultur Kalimantan Foundation - to make accessible permaculture education and training to local communities in Kalimantan/Borneo to improve land management, increase community resilience, increase food security, support sustainable livelihoods and culture and help to conserve the natural environment in the region.Our Experience
We have been doing not for profit permaculture work for the past 3 years in Australia and India as documented in our website www.suryaecoenterprises.weebly.com and now we are creating a formal entity to continue this important work in our homeland of Kalimantan (Borneo) Indonesia. Our mixed Indonesian/Australian family initiated this journey after pursuing Permaculture education and training in Australia and now we are a community working together to develop this project here in Kalimantan.
Background and issues
It was only a few generations ago that life was sustainable in Indonesia. People lived in harmony with their environment, but due to modernisation, industrialisation, and the green revolution - conventional monopoly agriculture such as unsustainable palm oil plantations, illegal logging and mining - this has seen the demise of natural environment, pollution, increase in poverty and malnutrition. This has led to the degradation of the environment and loss of rainforests at unprecedented rates. Widespread slash and burn activities every year caused one of the worst 'smoke emergencies' in Kalimantan only in the last few months. Land is cleared, peatland forests are burnt for agriculture and urban development.In response to these complex issues, we want to begin to introduce the concept of sustainable land management through permaculture. We will begin the project by developing a small scale permaculture demonstration site and educational and training facilities in a village in Central Kalimantan. We will develop our project scope later on to address ecosystem and forest/peatland restoration, as well as developing community resources such as a seed bank, co-operative, cultural activities and programs to name just a few.
Why we are Crowd funding?
We are seeking help to pay for the legal costs of establishing this foundation and initial costs in establishing the permaculture demonstration site (see the permaculture design plan below) which will be the focus of our education and training activities. Our main expenses are paying for legal fees in establishing the foundation ($800US), purchase of roof at the demonstration site for water harvesting ($2000US) (the current roof on existing building is asbestos), the purchase of water tanks, basic infrastructure for implementing the design and the purchase of animals to help get our permaculture gig going. In total equates to about $4500US.
Our Vision
Permaculture Kalimantan Foundation are committed to supporting communities return to sustainable living in a way that values and integrates the natural environment, people and culture for the long term. Mission
To support the resilience and empowerment of individuals and communities to return to long term sustainable agriculture, livelihoods and culture through the provision of integrated community centred, culturally appropriate education, training and programs.Values of the Project
There are a number of core values underpinning this project. These are ecological self-sustainability, following permaculture principles and ethics: (Care of people, Care of earth, Care for the future).Work Ethics and Approach
Our approach is a community-centered approach and great awareness will be taken to adhere to local traditional laws and customs, Adat (customary law). We have been invited and welcomed by the elders in the local Dayak community (traditional indigenous people of central Kalimantan) to undertake this work and extensive consultation has been conducted. This is demonstrated by the fact that one of the Dayak elders of the local community is one of our founding members. We also have the support and the confidence of the local Dayak Damang (Regional Chief of the Dayak community) to undertake this project.
In addition we will undertake our work with the community in a way that respects traditions and customs of the corresponding communities that we work with, such as the local Dayak people, Javanese, Balinese, to name a few. As such this project will utilize and support local indigenous knowledge, local natural resources, methodology and culture and will encompass various disciplines such as energy conservation, biodiversity restoration, ecology, environmental science, and natural landscape design where we will create low energy inputs for high yield.
Other information
Alongside our non profit community work with the locals, we will also be running courses for international students, as well as have WWOOFERS and short term volunteers to contribute to this project once we are set up. We are also in the process of setting up a website www.permakulturkalimantan.org (this will be up in the near future) and have just set a facebook page, 'Permakultur Kalimantan Foundation', to update regularly about our work.Thank you for your time and please get in contact if you are interested in getting involved in any way.