Ancient beliefs about spirit trees create unexpected forest protection in indonesian borneo

A fascinating study from Indonesian Borneo reveals how indigenous spiritual beliefs are providing powerful protection for critical forest ecosystems. Research published in the journal Biotropica shows that the Iban Indigenous community’s reverence for strangler fig trees—believed to house dangerous spirits—is creating measurable conservation benefits in West Kalimantan.

The belief system is deeply rooted in community experience. Local stories tell of spirits dwelling in large strangler figs that can lure people away or make them invisible to searchers. When researchers interviewed 32 community members in Sungai Utik, 30 confirmed they consider large strangler figs to host supernatural entities that become dangerous when disturbed. This spiritual taboo effectively makes these towering trees—some standing over 40 meters tall—completely off-limits to logging or clearing.

The ecological impact is significant. Strangler figs are keystone species that support biodiversity by providing food for numerous animals and creating unique habitat structures. These remarkable trees begin life in forest canopies, sending down aerial roots that eventually surround and outlive their host trees, creating hollow root towers that serve as wildlife corridors and nesting sites.

While modern conservation often relies on scientific arguments and legal protections, this research demonstrates how traditional belief systems can achieve similar results. The Iban community’s spiritual connection to strangler figs represents a powerful example of how indigenous knowledge and practices can serve as effective, community-driven conservation strategies that have protected these vital forest ecosystems for generations.