These two provinces are part of Indonesia but are situated on different islands -- Banten is located on Java Island, while Gorontalo is on Celebes (Sulawesi) Island. They are among Indonesia’s 38 provinces.
Historically, local communities in these regions have engaged in a combination of forestry, agriculture, and fishing. They harvested spices from forests and farms during the day and spent part of their time fishing in nearby lakes or seas.
This traditional way of life has evolved into a form of local wisdom that harmonizes human activities with the environment. In earlier times, local people primarily traveled by sea for both domestic and international trade.
Both Banten and Gorontalo are home to numerous heritages, including the ancient Local Law that governs how people use, navigate, and conduct trade via the sea, referred to as Ammana Gappa (1697-1723).
This law, established by the Wajo ruler of Makassar, laid the foundation for regional maritime trade regulations. Over time, it became a key reference in discussions on international maritime law, ultimately influencing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1982.
During Indonesia’s struggle for sovereignty over its waters, the nation’s founding fathers played a crucial role in diplomatic negotiations to secure international recognition of Indonesia’s territorial and internal waters.
Additionally, the local people successfully developed The First Tall Ship in the 14th century called Pinisi (Indonesian Sailing vessel), which UNESCO has recognized as a world intangible culture of humanity.
Meanwhile, in Banten Province, the same character was also found, especially during the Nusantara Kingdom era when the messenger of Sultan Banten and his entourage (representatives of the Banten ruler) in the 16th century (as recorded in The Diary Of John Evelyn, October 31, 1620-February 27, 1706) sailed across international seas to visit connections in Africa and were welcomed by King Charles II.
In addition to traveling, the Banten community was fond of exploring forests and engaging in activities in paddy fields and farms to produce spices that attracted international traders.
As many historians note, the Java and Celebes Islands were well-known as centers of kingdom governance and sources of organic spice materials, which drew many visitors to conduct business with the local community during the period of the Nusantara Kingdoms before Indonesia’s independence on August 17, 1945.
The term "Nusantara" has been adopted as the name for Indonesia's new capital, situated on Kalimantan Island.
Personal encounters with local wisdom
I have had the privilege of visiting both Banten and Gorontalo on multiple occasions. My first trip to Sulawesi was to Kendari in 1991, followed by visits to Boalemo, Gorontalo, in 2016 and 2017. Meanwhile, I frequently visit Banten, as it is my parents’ hometown and is located near Jakarta, where I reside.
During the visit, I was thoroughly impressed by how these two local communities, under the supervision of their regional government, manage forest plants for their everyday consumption needs.
Palm sugar trees represent one of the productive forest species thriving in this region. This tree remains plentiful in Gorontalo and Banten. Topographically, these two regions are mountainous and still have several forest trees, which from the start, have been an integral part of the lives of the local community.
The two communities of these provinces demonstrate remarkable expertise in conserving and utilizing the forest biodiversity, yielding advantages that extend beyond ecological benefits to also economic and social benefits.
However, the passage of time has brought new challenges. The rich biodiversity of these regions is increasingly under threat due to encroachment and rapid population growth. As demand for land rises to accommodate expanding settlements, the pressure on forest ecosystems has intensified.
Fortunately, during the 2015-2017 period, I observed a strategic research conducted by the Ministry of Forest and Environment under the Desa Mandiri Berbasis Aren (Self-Sufficient Palm Sugar Village) Program.
This project succeeded in mobilizing the local community to manage forest assets through palm sugar management for supporting the economic and social cohesiveness of the local people. The community is being trained to process the sap of water nira into bioethanol.
The results were remarkable. This project successfully produced at least 500 liters of bioethanol from 2,500 liters of sap/nira. In addition to bioethanol, the local people are accustomed to producing kolang kaling as fresh food and also palm sugar, both of which are of high quality in terms of health and economic benefits. The residue of this production process is also converted into fertilizer and biomass products.
The actions taken by the Ministry of Environment and Forest align closely with the global vision and mission to protect the Earth from climate change, pollution, and global warming caused by fossil fuel use.
In 2022, the UN Secretary-General warned of the catastrophic consequences of failing to address climate change. The world urgently needs clean energy solutions to avert environmental and humanitarian crises. However, achieving this goal requires collective action at a global level.
At the national level, the Indonesian government has committed to increasing the share of biofuels in its energy mix, targeting 31 percent by 2050. However, this transition is challenging, as the country’s energy industry remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels.
Hence, Indonesian energy stakeholders and related parties support creative ways to utilize biomass and bioproducts.
In tandem with the above efforts, it is quite encouraging when all stakeholders in regional areas remain alert and active in maintaining the existing project, even though the production of bioethanol from palm sugar sap remains low or stagnant.
International recognition and collaboration
To further promote sustainable palm sugar management in Indonesia and globally, several key institutions --including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Indonesia, Gorontalo State University, and SESRIC-OIC (based in Türkiye) -- have collaborated to organize an international webinar on February 26, 2025.
This concrete step has become a reference for at least participants from 26 countries and four international bodies (FAO and three bodies in the OIC) who attended.
This step becomes more meaningful with the efforts of resource persons from Indonesia and the team in mobilizing human and natural resources, especially in managing areas that are classified as remote and vulnerable. These regions, despite their challenges in terms of the quality of human resources and also the environment, are rich in biodiversity.
Armed with determination, knowledge, and the support of the fathers and mothers collaborating with the pentahalix team, it is believed that Indonesia continues to play a significant role in contributing both to its own development and the world.
I firmly believe that biodiversity conservation is a strategic national asset that must be optimized by the Indonesian people. It is essential for both national and regional leaders to prioritize this issue and integrate it into practical, well-balanced programs.
Palm trees, as a type of palm from around thousands or even millions of flora in the world, are a gift that should be preserved and even developed, similar to other types of beneficial flora.
I do hope that all components of the nation, including the government, private sector, individuals, and related parties, both domestically and internationally, share a common direction and mission of managing their local wisdom sustainably.
By fostering a shared vision and mission, we can ensure a balanced approach to food security, clean energy, environmental conservation, and sustainable social empowerment for communities across Indonesia and beyond.
*) Moehammad Amar Ma’ruf is writer of Book of Katulistiwa.
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