The Dayak people of Borneo have many expressions for land.

The Dayak people of Borneo have many expressions for land.

The Dayak people of Borneo have many expressions for land.

Taná Ngaso is land for hunting.

Taná Lumaq is land for farming

Taná Jakah is sacred land where something important has happened.

And Taná Perá, which translates to “lovely land,” is their forest.

The Dayak live close to the land and depend on natural resources.

The Dayak live close to the land and depend on natural resources.

They hunt in the forest.

And fish the rivers that run through it.

They build their homes and boats from wood.

They build their homes and boats from wood.

“From the time I could walk, I was in the forest,” says the leader of Long Tuyo village.

But the forests these communities have used and protected for generations are under threat.

Some areas are disputed, with palm oil and timber companies laying claim to the same land.

Some areas are disputed, with palm oil and timber companies laying claim to the same land.

In other areas, companies are trying to buy access to Dayak land.

Another local leader says he has seen the consequences of such deals.

“They got something from the company, but it hasn’t improved their lives. And now their trees are gone.”

“They got something from the company, but it hasn’t improved their lives. And now their trees are gone.”

WWF works with communities to secure legal rights to their land.

This slow work is done over countless cups of tea, as maps are studied and marked.

Mountains and streams turned into lines of latitude and longitude.

And compromises are reached.

There’s a window of opportunity to preserve the balance between people and nature.

There’s a window of opportunity to preserve the balance between people and nature.

There’s a window of opportunity to preserve the balance between people and nature.

And ensure the taná pera – the lovely land – remains so.

And ensure the taná pera – the lovely land – remains so.