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One of the world’s most innovative environmentalists was in the Burren last week, sharing ideas with two groundbreaking local groups.
Borneo environmental activist and co-founder of Arus Kualan indigenous schools, Plorentina ‘Dessy’ Elma Thyana, visited Ennistymon and Kinvara recently, where she met with representatives from HomeTree and the Kinvara Ballinderreen Tree Gang.
Dessy is a member of the Dayak people, the guardians of the Borneo rainforest, and is the first member of the Dayak people to ever visit Ireland.
The Borneo rainforest, known as the Asian Amazon, is the oldest rainforest in the world having been in existence for some 140 million years.
Dessy’s first visit to Ireland is a cultural exchange and was aimed to offer a chance for Irish people to learn from an advanced indigenous culture who only knows organic, circular economic and sustainable agricultural practices.
During her time in the Burren she gave talks and joined in knowledge sharing workshops locally with HomeTree in Ennistymon and the Kinvara Ballinderreen Tree Gang, who are using the Japanese Miyawaki method to rapidly grow native Irish forest that is predicted to absorb 30 times more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than traditional tree planting methods.
“Meeting Dessy was a rare and precious opportunity for our group to hear first-hand of both the riches of the Dayak Forest culture and the challenges they face from those who see the rainforest through the lens of profit,” said Finola Ó Siochrú, Miyawaki Project Leader of the KB TreeGang.
“It highlighted for us the urgency of preventing the destruction of this 140 million-year old rainforest. To allow this would be to rob the earth of one of its life-sustaining lungs and the basis of survival of the Dayak peoples.”
Jess Williams, Hometree Rainforest Project Manager said there are many similarities between the current situation in Ireland and Borneo.
“Hometree was delighted to collaborate with Our Story to welcome Dessy, an inspiring guest from the Borneo Rainforest,” he said.
“Despite the many, many miles of ocean between Borneo and Ireland, the similarities between our cultures and work were incredible to share. We are both island peoples, and forest peoples.
“In Ireland we’ve all but lost our forest and we’re trying desperately to reconnect with the land and the forest lore that’s embedded in our culture. In Borneo they are watching as the rainforests disappear and indigenous culture disappears with it.
“The Dayak community and Dessy’s project are trying to change this.
“We have so much to learn from them.”
During her visit, Dessy also joined activities in UCD Innovation Academy, Down to Earth Forest School, the Galway Hooker Sailing Club, Dr Clare’s apothecary, nature artist Roisin Coyle and musical instrument maker Paul Doyle.
“The Dayak people can learn a lesson from Ireland’s experience of losing your forests, culture and traditional knowledge during colonisation,” she said.
The visit was made possible following a trip by Irish environmentalist, founder of Our Story, Melanie Lynch, who travelled to Borneo to meet Dessy and immerse in the Dayak culture in 2021.
“The experience had a profound impact on me. As a child I was captivated by photos of the Dayak tribe and Borneo in the National Geographic. I always dreamed of travelling there one day,” she said.
“I witnessed how the rainforest has been decimated by deforestation. We drove for hours through palm oil plantations before we reached the healthy rainforest.
“It made me reflect on what our ancestors endured centuries ago, watching Irish forests felled by colonisers.
“However, what’s left of the breath-taking Borneo rainforest is 5 times the size of Ireland, with over 10,000 species of plants, including over 3000 tree species and 2,000 types of orchids.
“And at the heart of this ecosystem is the extraordinary Dayak culture who have lived in harmony with their environment for millennia. Now is the time we rise up to support the Dayak and the rainforest.
“There are many synergies between Dayak and Irish culture. Together we share a deep love for the earth, especially forests. The Dayak are also passionate about traditional music, dance, and crafts.
“Inspired by nature and the ornate design of ferns, the Dayak beadwork patterns are similar in style to Celtic motifs.”
Dessy’s father is a traditional instrument maker and he made the sapé instrument, a stringed guitar-like instrument, that Dessy played during her visit to Ireland.
Andrew Hamilton
Andrew Hamilton is a journalist, writer and podcaster based in the west of Ireland.
