Illipe Nut

Illipe nuts from various Shorea species.

Dayak children in West Kalimantan with the seeds of S. stenoptera.

Trucks loaded with illipe nuts waiting outside the C.V. Mentawi processing plant in Pontianak, West Kalimantan.

The seeds produced by several species of Shorea in Borneo contain an edible oil whose physical and chemical properties are remarkably similar to cocoa butter.  These seeds are known commercially as "illipe nuts", and large quantities are collected and sold internationally to be used in the manufacture of chocolate, soap, candles, and cosmetics. West Kalimantan exports tens of thousands of tons of illipe nuts. [NOTE: The triglyceride fractions in illipe nut oil occur in similar proportions to those found in cocoa butter, and the oil can be blended with chocolate without altering the texture, gloss, or taste of the original confection.  The higher melting point of illipe nut oil makes it especially useful as a chocolate hardener, i.e. so that it melts in your mouth, not in your hand].

Danau Sentarum

Danau Sentarum National Park (DSNP), Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The park is a series of interconnected seasonal lakes in the floodplain of the upper Kapuas River.

The village of Pulau Majang in DSNP.  All of the pilings, boardwalks, railings, and stairs are made from Fragraea fragrans (Loganiaceae). [NOTE: Both images have been scanned from slides.]

Danau Sentarum is the largest inland lake on the island of Borneo. The lake supports a large traditional fishing industry and is home to 39 fishing villages.  During the flooding season, water levels can rise to within inches of the boardwalks and floors of the houses, completely surrounding the community and making it look like the entire village is floating on the lake.

I spent a pleasant evening in Pulau Majang during the floodpeak of 1993 and was impressed by the skill with which everyone navigated the narrow wooden boardwalks in the dark. One wrong step and you end up in the lake.  I was a bit concerned about all of the little kids scurrying around. In response to my question about whether any children had ever fallen off, I was told, "Oh, yeah. They all do. But you pull them out and they never do it again." A key lesson, I guess, if you are living over a 30,000 hectare lake.  Click here for more information about what I was working on at DSNP.

Tembawang

Managed forest orchard in Bagak Sawah, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.  Every one of the trees shown has been planted or protected.

Selaku Dayak returning from his tembawang laden with durian (Durio zibethinus) fruits.  

I lived in western Borneo for a good part of the 1990's.   One of my favorite projects during this period  was a study of the managed forest orchards produced by Dayak communities.  These orchards, known locally as "tembawang", are some of the finest examples of tropical silviculture that I have ever seen.  Some tembawang contain over 125 species of trees together with bamboo, rattan, understory shrubs, and herbaceous medicinal plants.  The resultant mix is indistinguishable - to most eyes - from undisturbed Dipterocarp forest.  Further information about tembawang can be found here. [NOTE: Both images have been scanned from slides].