INTRODUCING THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS TO PERMACULTURE AND ECOTOURISM
This piece of land is beautiful, covered by lush plants. Some time ago, several young people from Tahawa Village and Parahangan Village set foot in Tangkiling, a permacultural hotbed and ecotourist destination. These young visitors foresaw the promise of ecotourism in their own villages; as, too, did members of the tourism awareness group who travelled to the popular site of Kahui, well-known for its riverbanks and stunning natural vistas.
Kalimantan Permaculture Programme Coordinator, Aliman, said that the maximum land area required to support food needs was 30×50 square meters. Within this space grow various plants, ranging from calliandra (Calliandra haematocephala), gamal (Gliricidia sepium) and trees that fix nitrogen in the soil.
Fallen leaves are used for fertilizer, while fruits and vegetables feed the local community. At this location, there are also cattle, ducks, and worm farms for processing fertilizers. Crucially, waste is minimized.
“We introduce the younger generation to the concept of permaculture so that it can be applied in the village and support ecotourism,” Aliman explained.
Permaculture is essentially agriculture that is sustainable, continuous and permanent. Therefore, permaculture adheres to principles of balance and sustainability. The core idea is to be responsible for human existence while maintaining the sustainability of animals and other living things.
Meanwhile, the Head of Pokdarwis (tourism awareness group) in Parahangan Village, Ahmad Junaidi, said he was happy to see such commitment to sustainability in Tangkiling. In particular, the permaculture gardens support food needs, with products sold through Kedai Itah.
Likewise, he is impressed by the Kahui tourist location, which is very attractive and contributes to local revenue. “Later we will apply ecotourism in Parahangan Village,” he vows.
Coordinator of Community Development within Borneo Nature Foundation (BNF) Indonesia, Yuliana Nona, said that the purpose of the young people’s visit from Parahangan Village and Tahwa Village was to provide a working example of sustainable agriculture and eco-friendly tourism.
The preservation of local plants, spices, grains, medicines and vegetables is aided by these systems. “Because preserving nature and protecting the environment can protect local food. If you don’t preserve nature, we risk extinction. Moreover, climate change is happening,” Yuliana continued. BNF hopes that more young people decide to stay in their ancestral villages and develop their potential because the future lies in these villages.
Writer: Agus Pramono/Kalteng Post
Photo by: Joan Prahara/BNF
This article has been posted at https://kaltengonline.com/2021/11/03/mengenalkan-generasi-muda-soal-permakultur-dan-ekowisata/
