Living with the Rainforest: The Cultural Knowledge of Borneo's Dayak People

Borneo, Indonesia, or Kalimantan as it is known locally, is among the most biodiverse places on Earth. And the indigenous Dayak people of Borneo are the keepers of vast cultural knowledge about the diversity of native plants. Kristen Grant, Extension Associate with Maine Sea Grant, recently traveled to Borneo to study with the Dayak people and help document their traditional uses of native plants for food and medicine. Kristen will share highlights from her experiences living with and learning from the Dayak people.  

As Southern Maine Marine Extension Associate, Kristen has worked in that region of the state since 1999. Her office in Wells is housed at the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, facilitating partnerships with NOAA colleagues there. The majority of Kristen’s work focuses on the interactions between the people, the resources, and the ecosystems of the coast. Her work includes a range of activities to build the capacity of coastal communities to plan and adapt for their future. She has experience living and working internationally in places such as the Netherlands, Guatemala and most recently, Indonesia.  To this work, Kristen brings a Master of Science degree focused on Environmental Education, and has an extensive background in outreach education and community development.