The role of conservation education in the Dayak indigenous community of Ensaid Panjang village, Sintang Regency, West Kalimantan Province

¹ Tropical Biodiversity Conservation Study Program, Department of Forest Resources Conservation and Ecotourism, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, IPB University, Dramaga, Bogor 16680, Indonesia
² Centre for Alternative Dispute Resolutions, Regulation & Policy Analysis and Community Empowerment (CARE), IPB University, Baranangsiang Bogor 16129, Indonesia
³ Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Manila, Philippines

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

The Dayak indigenous community of Ensaid Panjang village in Sintang Regency, West Kalimantan Province, plays a crucial role in conservation education and forest management. This study identifies stakeholders and assesses their collaborative roles in conserving Customary Forest using a matrix of alliances and conflicts (MACTOR) analysis. The results reveal power imbalances among stakeholders, with government entities dominating decision-making while indigenous communities remain marginalised. However, there is strong support for integrating indigenous knowledge into conservation education. The analysis indicates a promising coalition framework supporting culturally grounded biodiversity education and customary forest recognition, although there are doubts and it can trigger conflicts related to policies and agribusiness interests carried out by key actors. Strategies for effective conservation education include fostering cultural coalitions, negotiating with the government and private sectors, empowering the community through social capital initiatives, and promoting inclusive governance that respects local wisdom. The findings provide a basis for designing multilevel collaborative governance, where Dayak communities drive conservation, and the state and private sectors are invited to form alliances based on shared goals. This study contributes to the literature on community-based conservation in Indonesia and offers a framework for more equitable Indigenous Forest conservation strategies.