Sintang: A District Brimming with Potential and Hope
The Heart of Borneo Initiative is a voluntary transboundary cooperation between Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia to conserve approximately 23 million ha of Borneo’s rainforests and water catchments for benefit of present and future generations. One of the central goals of this initiative is to promote sustainable natural resource management, engaging both forestry and non-forestry sectors.
Sintang District, spanning 21,910 km², is 59% forested, including Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park, with High Conservation Values covering 47% of its total area, based on an assessment conducted by WWF Indonesia.
By maintaining the extent and integrity of its forests, Sintang District plays a critical role in carbon sequestration, while improving resilience against the impacts of climate change. However, land-use changes such as deforestation for expanding agriculture pose risks of increased emissions. The District’s HCV and HCS areas contribute directly to emission reduction targets outlined in the West Kalimantan Regional Action Plan for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions (2020–2023), the National Action Plan for Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and the Forestry and Other Land Uses (FOLU) Net Sink 2030, which focuses on maximizing carbon absorption, reducing deforestation, and preventing environmental degradation.
Economic Growth: Balancing Development and Conservation
Sintang District is not only a haven for exceptional wildlife (including the orangutan, hornbills, and other globally threatened species), but also home to Dayak Indigenous communities, who depend on the forests for their livelihoods and cultural heritage. For local Dayak communities, the forests are more than just a source of livelihood - they are deeply woven into their culture and identity.
“Our ancestors have always depended on the forests for food, medicine, and shelter. With sustainable management, we can ensure that future generations will still benefit from them.” – Mr. Y.A. Masdar. S, a community leader in Sintang
Despite increasing land-use pressures, Sintang has managed to maintain much of its forest cover - setting it apart from neighboring districts. By embracing sustainable policies, the district is proving that economic growth can be achieved without sacrificing environmental integrity. This provides a unique opportunity for Sintang to chart a more balanced path towards development.
Recognizing the need for sustainable economic growth, Sintang District authorities have committed to “turning things around” by promoting development that values the district’s exceptional natural capital and cultural heritage. This approach is reflected in initiatives like the Sustainable Sintang Regional Action Plan (RAD-SL) and the Regional Action Plan for Sustainable Palm Oil (RAD KSB), which prioritize sustainable resource management and environmentally conscious policies.
Today, the district is working to balance the competing demands of economic development and environmental conservation. Efforts include:
- Supporting community-based enterprises that integrate sustainable forestry and agriculture.
- Promoting investments in green infrastructure to reduce environmental impacts.
- Encouraging businesses to adopt sustainable practices and maintain HCV and HCS forests.
By embedding sustainability into its economic framework, Sintang aims to position itself as a leader in sustainable development. This strategy not only benefits its ecosystems and communities but also ensures long-term economic resilience in an ever-changing global market and climate.
A Hub of Collaboration and Strong Sustainable Intentions
In 2016, Sintang District Government declared itself a Sustainable District, a commitment formalized in the RAD-SL document and Sintang Regent Regulation Number 66 of 2019. This commitment emphasizes integrating environmental considerations into economic and social development while addressing climate change.
To promote open governance, Sintang District Government provides platforms for stakeholders to contribute to the sustainable development initiative. This approach has fostered multistakeholder collaboration, as seen in the RAD-KSB which drives sustainable palm oil development and management.
"Protecting and preserving forests is a wise and essential step to prevent deforestation and forest degradation. However, on the other hand, the need for land for agriculture and community development is also important. Therefore, strategies prioritizing sustainable development are necessary. The integration of HCV and HCS mapping is meaningful because it provides a clear framework to identify initial critical areas for conservation to guide further land-use planning that aims to balance environmental protection and development needs. " – Drs. Igor Nugroho, M.Si, Head of the Environmental Agency of Sintang District
For this reason, WWF-Indonesia collaborated with the Sintang District Government to conduct jurisdictional-scale mapping of likely HCV and HCS forests. This initiative aimed to provide critical data to support and inform sustainable land-use planning by identifying known ecologically and socially important areas within the district. The mapping process served as a foundation for guiding future conservation efforts while ensuring that development priorities align with environmental and community needs. By integrating HCV and HCS criteria, the collaboration underscores the district’s commitment to balancing growth and ecological stewardship.
Indicative HCV Mapping: A Foundation for Sustainability
WWF Indonesia and the Sintang Government collaborated to conduct a landscape scale integrated HCV-HCS study in the Sintang jurisdiction. The study found that indicative HCV and HCS values in Sintang District encompass approximately 1,137,546 ha, which represents around 51.5% of Sintang District area.
The environmental HCVs identified include Protected and Conservation Areas and forest outside of the protected areas network that support important habitats for Rare, Threatened, and Endangered (RTE) and endemic species, such as Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), Helmeted Hornbill (Rhinoplax vigil), Bornean River Turtle (Orlitia borneensis), Bornean Flat-Headed Frog (Barbourula kalimantanensis), and Shield-Leaved Pitcher-Plant (Nepenthes clipeata). The study also highlighted several forest ecosystems such as peat swamps that provide valuable ecosystem services.
Social HCVs focus on areas vital to the livelihoods and cultures of local communities, including customary forests (Rimba/Gupung), Tembawang, and other community-managed areas.
"The integrated HCV-HCS study at the landscape scale serves as an important foundation to inform priorities for future spatial planning and development program planning in Sintang District. Collaboration among stakeholders is crucial in the efforts to protect and manage HCV-HCS areas to support the commitment of the Sintang District Government as a Sustainable District." – Albertus Tjiu, Arabela Landscape Manager, WWF Indonesia.
Integrated HCV-HCS Findings to inform Landscape Planning
The study was conducted through a combination of desk-based analysis, stakeholder consultations, and targeted field verification to assess the ecological and social significance of different areas across the landscape. Spatial data, remote sensing imagery, and existing biodiversity assessments were used to map potential HCV and HCS areas, while stakeholder engagement - including discussions with local communities, government agencies, and civil society organizations - helped validate findings and integrate local knowledge into the assessment.
For social HCVs, data was compiled through interviews, participatory mapping, and a review of existing community land-use records, ensuring that areas important for Indigenous communities, cultural heritage, and livelihoods were considered in the mapping process.
These findings have also been instrumental in preparing key planning documents like Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) and Environmental Impact Analyses (EIA). These tools ensure alignment between government projects, business activities, and sustainability principles.
While this jurisdictional-scale indicative mapping is not a substitute for site-level HCV assessments, it provides valuable orientation for identifying priority areas for conservation and responsible land-use planning. The results serve as an early decision-support tool for communicating conservation priorities, guiding further studies, and informing policy frameworks at the district level.
Recommendations for Conservation and Development
To support the effective management of HCV-HCS areas, a multi-stakeholder working group - including representatives from the Sintang District Government, WWF-Indonesia, and local organizations - developed key recommendations during recent workshops and discussions. These recommendations focus on strengthening conservation efforts while ensuring sustainable land use that benefits both communities and biodiversity.
Key recommendations from the working group included:
- Protecting biodiversity through habitat restoration and conservation of rare and endangered species.
- Conserving riparian zones and watersources by maintaining natural vegetation cover to safeguard water quality and ecosystem health.
- Reducing environmental risks, such as pollution and forest fires, through active community participation and improved land management practices.
- Promoting sustainable resource use by encouraging low-impact practices and multi-business forestry initiatives that align with conservation goals.
As a next step, WWF-Indonesia is working closely with the Sintang authorities to advance these recommendations by enhancing stakeholder engagement, validating mapping results through detailed field verification surveys, and supporting participatory processes, including Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) with communities. These efforts will help ensure that HCV-HCS data are effectively integrated into Sintang’s spatial planning and land-use policies in a way that is inclusive and sustainable.
This collaborative approach underscores Sintang’s leadership in sustainable development, demonstrating how jurisdictional-level conservation efforts can align with global priorities for climate action, biodiversity protection, and responsible land management.
Joint Management and Monitoring: Key to Long-Term Success.
The HCV-HCS study throughout the jurisdiction has positioned collaboration centrally in Sintang’s sustainable development efforts. Greater coordination among stakeholders - government agencies, private sector partners, local communities, and NGOs - is essential to maximize impact.
Future efforts should include integrating study findings into government frameworks, expanding landscape-scale research, and developing clear guidelines to measure the quality and impacts of HCV-HCS management. These steps will strengthen Sintang’s position as a model for sustainable districts in Indonesia.
HCV Network’s Perspective: Building on Indicative Mapping
The HCV Approach is widely used to ensure that commodity production is not conducted at the expense of critical conservation values. The HCV Approach was first developed within the context of certification and applied at site level. More recently it has also become integral to government policies, sustainability initiatives, and increasingly is applied at landscape and jurisdictional scales, leading to the launch of landscape HCV screening guidance.
As we emphasise in the landscape screening brief, large scale indicative mapping of ecological and social HCVs lays the foundation to prioritise where follow-up work is needed. Further detailed stakeholder consultation, field work, and Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) processes with communities are necessary prior to making final land-use planning decisions.
HCVN sees the Sintang HCV-HCS indicative mapping as a valuable first step and encourages further participatory processes to ensure the mapping reflects shared priorities. With additional engagement from communities, businesses, and policymakers, Sintang can set a national example of integrating HCV-HCS principles into jurisdictional planning.
“The indicative mapping provides a strong starting point, with further participatory efforts crucial to ensure its relevance and applicability to Sintang’s spatial planning processes.” - Olivia Scholtz, HCV Network’s Director of Implementation
Sintang is proving that sustainability and development are not mutually exclusive. By leveraging data, local knowledge, and collaboration, the district is setting an example for other regions in Indonesia and beyond.
As stakeholders - from policymakers to businesses to local communities - continue to refine and expand these efforts, there is an opportunity for broader engagement. If you are interested in supporting conservation, sustainable land-use planning, or community-led initiatives in Sintang, we encourage you to explore WWF’s latest projects or reach out to local organizations driving change on the ground.
For further information:
Muhammad Munawir – Sustainable Commodities Coordinator WWF Indonesia
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