ENSAID PANJANG, Indonesia – The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) works with local communities in the forests of Kalimantan, Indonesia to protect biodiversity and generate sustainable livelihoods.

Traditionally, the cultivation of natural dyes is used for traditional weaving in Kalimantan, Indonesian territory on the island of Borneo. These methods are used as a means of forest conservation, along with the planting and cultivation of natural coloring plants.

In the village of Ensaid Panjang, the woven products not only have commercial value – they serve as a key link to indigenous traditions and ways of life, including ceremonies and rituals.

A UNDP-supported project works with communities, like Ensaid Panjang, to protect and maintain forest areas.

Dyed in wool

A particularly staunch supporter of a particular ideology is sometimes referred to as ‘dyed in the mass’, implying that he is steadfast in his beliefs and that his support will not falter no matter what pressures he faces.

It is therefore particularly appropriate that the cultivation of natural dyes used in traditional weaving is used as a means of forest conservation in Kalimantan, Indonesian territory on the island of Borneo.

Recognizing that naturally-dyed textiles are in high demand (and therefore fetch higher prices) in international markets, the weavers of Ensaid Panjang village have initiated a program to rehabilitate and enrich the forests by planting and cultivating plants. producing natural dyes.

For the weavers of Ensaid Panjang, the products they weave not only have commercial value – they serve as a key link to Indigenous traditions and ways of life, including ceremonies and rituals.

The indigenous peoples of Borneo, known collectively as the Dayaks, belong to more than 50 different ethnic groups who speak approximately 140 languages ​​and dialects.

In Dayak villages, virtually all community events, from the Gawai Dayak festival to traditional wedding ceremonies, require the use of traditional clothing made from locally produced fabrics.

A celebration of color

Ceremonies marking the rice harvest date back thousands of years, but Gawai Dayak is much more than that: it celebrates the time of the harvest, sets aside rice seeds for future use, and commemorates a peace deal between tribes of old. rivals throughout Kalimantan.

The festival is marked by its explosion of colors, punctuated by naturally dyed textiles created by traditional weaving.

Appropriate valuation of natural dyes and locally produced textiles also enhances the value of the forests from which they come. – UN News