Borneo’s nature is rich in unique plant life, which is central to the culture and survival of many of its people. This is revealed in a new biocultural database developed by researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), showing how plants are used for everything from medicine to boat building. With over 1,300 plant species documented, the goal is to highlight the connection between nature and culture and promote sustainable land use on the island.
The world is facing a biodiversity crisis. As species disappear, it is not only biological values that are at risk, but cultural values as well. For many communities, especially indigenous peoples, nature is a vital part of their cultural heritage and identity. Specific landscapes, animals, and plants are embedded in traditional stories, ceremonies, and ways of life.
“The loss of biodiversity is also the loss of cultural values, which are essential for the survival and well-being of many communities,” says Petter Axelsson, a researcher at SLU.
According to the global biodiversity platform IPBES, consideration of such cultural ecosystem services is crucial for long-term sustainability and environmental justice. However, information to assess the cultural values of landscapes is often lacking, especially for biologically and culturally diverse tropical ecosystems.
In a study led by SLU researchers, scientific information on plant use in Borneo has been compiled into a biocultural database. The island boasts rich and unique biodiversity, with a significant number of plant and animal species endemic to the region. Borneo is also culturally diverse, with 306 officially recognized indigenous groups.
“The database now contains information on 1,319 plant species, including which parts of the plants are used and for what purposes,” explains Petter Axelsson.
The various uses have been categorized into 23 groups, ranging from species whose tree trunks are used for boat construction to sap, roots, and leaves from other species used in traditional medicine to relieve back pain, toothache, and fever. The reports come from 39 different communities on Borneo.
“This is a significant step forward in understanding the cultural values within these rich ecosystems, but much more work remains. We hope that both academics and the general public will help us further develop the database and contribute to the incorporation of cultural values into policies and management practices,” says Petter Axelsson.
The tree Koompassia excelsa, also known as the tualang tree, can grow over 80 meters tall and is known for housing large colonies of honeybees. The bees build their large, hanging nests in the upper parts of the tree, where they are protected from predators. The honey provides an important source of income for local communities, and harvesting is often done by particularly experienced individuals. A traditional method of harvesting involves using wooden plugs or ladders driven into the tree trunk to create a staircase. Knowledge of this craft is passed down through generations. The tree also holds deep cultural significance for several groups and is considered sacred. Photo: T. R. Shankar Raman, CC BY-SA 4.0
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This trunk shows traces of previous plugs that were hammered in to climb up the trunk. Photo: Susanna Bergström, SLU
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Axelsson, E. P., D. Lussetti, and F. M. Franco. 2024. A Bornean database of plant uses and their cultural contexts: Introducing BioCultBase\Borneo. DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2024.110926
The research was funded by the Swedish Research Council.