March, 2026
Building a Future Where Forests and People Thrive
Innovative approaches to advance forest management and rural development
Our sustainable development models for the Bentarum landscape focus on four key areas:
Sangga Canopy
Strengthening Forest Governance
Bentarum is still substantially forested but those forests are categorised for different uses, managed under varying regulations. Corporate concessions are expanding. Road and infrastructure development is popular with residents but fragments forests. Through Sangga Canopy, we advance models to strengthen forest governance that support sustainable development.
Sangga Farming
Transforming Agriculture
Most of Bentarum’s practice some degree of farming, mainly for subsistence. Productivity is low, hampered by poor soil quality, pests, plant diseases and conflict with wildlife. Market access is limited. Through Sangga Farming, we show that small changes, using locally available products, can have a significant impact.
Sangga Stories
Safeguarding Indigenous Knowledge
Bentarum is shaped by customary forests and oral traditions held by Indigenous Dayak communities. These cultural narratives guide relationships between people, wildlife, and the landscape, shaping conservation in practice. Through Sangga Stories, we work with communities to document and safeguard Indigenous knowledge and integrate cultural values into locally grounded conservation.
Sangga Health
Strengthening Community and Ecosystem Health
Human health is closely linked to the environment through food systems, hunting, and livestock practices. These connections influence nutrition, disease risks, and community wellbeing. Through Sangga Health, we strengthen community health by improving access to sustainable domestic protein and supporting village-based, data-driven health and nutrition systems.