Roots of change: fighting biodiversity loss in Malaysia

In the heart of Malaysia, a quiet revolution is taking root – one that aims to restore balance to both the environment and the lives of the Orang Asli, the indigenous people of this land. This transformation is driven by an innovative approach to agriculture known as syntropic farming. But it is more than just a story about farming; it is a narrative about hope, sustainability, and the rejuvenation of a people and their ecosystem. 

When you talk to 53-year-old Jamida, he will tell you that the area around Bukit Biru used to be rich in forests – land on which he could once rely for his livelihood. He has lived in Bukit Biru village for 15 years and used to forage in the forest for rattan, damar and bertam – a species of palm native to Southeast Asia – and he could earn up to 40 Malaysian ringgits a day, which is about eight euros or nine US dollars.

Poor soil, poor harvest

But deforestation and land development have meant that people like Jamida are losing their livelihoods. With the surrounding forest gone, Jamida and many others in the Orang Asli community have been forced to give up their traditional livelihood methods of hunting and gathering and try their hand at conventional farming in an attempt to make enough money to feed their families. Limited to growing only a few hardy crops such as cassava, bananas and rubber trees on account of the poor soil conditions, villagers struggled to sustain their livelihoods. Jamida’s daily earnings dropped to around 15 ringgits. And with minimal produce to harvest and sell, it left his family and others in the village impoverished.

The COVID pandemic only exacerbated the situation, further limiting food sources for Jamida’s community and forcing some people in the village to start scavenging at a nearby landfill for recyclables to sell – a sign of just how dire the situation had become. To support the Orang Asli through the pandemic, local non-profit organisation, Global Peace Foundation Malaysia (GPFM), in collaboration with Deutsche Bank, fundraised to provide 900 families with food.

Global Peace Foundation Malaysia has been working with underserved indigenous communities like Jamida’s since 2016. They have worked with over 100 villages in West and East Malaysia on energy, education, sustainable farming and livelihood projects. In 2018, recognising the challenges the villagers in Bukit Biru were facing, Global Peace Foundation Malaysia (GPFM) began working with them to develop a holistic solution that would address the root causes of their situation and one that improves the diversity of their environment.

Our aim was to find sustainable solutions aligning with the Orang Asli’s values and their role as guardians of the forest. It needed to address the problem of providing nutritious, healthy food using a cost-effective manner, whilst improving their ecosystem biodiversity.Teh Su Thye

A sustainable solution for a dire situation 

Dr Teh Su Thye, Chief Executive Officer at GPFM, says: “Our aim was to find sustainable solutions aligning with the Orang Asli’s values and their role as guardians of the forest. It needed to address the problem of providing nutritious, healthy food using a cost-effective manner, whilst improving their ecosystem biodiversity.”

The solution they chose: Syntropic Agroforestry, or SA for short. It is a method pioneered by Swiss farmer and researcher Ernst Götsch, who started practicing it when he moved to Brazil in the early 1980s. It reimagines agriculture as a process that enhances, rather than depletes, natural ecosystems. Unlike conventional farming, which often leads to soil degradation and loss of biodiversity, SA mimics the complex interrelationships found in natural forests. It involves the strategic planting of various species – trees, shrubs and crops – in a way that promotes symbiosis and mutual support, allowing a diverse range of plants to co-exist in harmony with each other, each growing at their own pace and thriving together.

At its core, syntropic farming is about creating a self-sustaining, regenerative system where every plant, from the tallest tree to the smallest shrub, plays a vital role, creating a rich tapestry of life, where every species contributes to the health of the whole. Proponents of SA speak of the “network of roots”. It establishes an ecosystem where trees provide shade and protect the soil from erosion, while shrubs and ground cover plants retain moisture and prevent weeds from taking hold. This diversity not only supports a wide range of animal life but also ensures that the ecosystem remains balanced and self-sustaining. 

The process begins by understanding the natural succession of plant life, where species are introduced in phases that build upon one another, enriching the soil and providing a habitat for wildlife. As one plant dies, it becomes nutrients to feed and support the growth of others. SA not only preserves biodiversity but actively encourages it, turning farmlands into thriving ecosystems.

The advantages of SA are immense, particularly in the context of biodiversity. Traditional monoculture farming strips the land of its natural diversity, leaving it vulnerable to pests and disease while depleting the soil of its nutrients. Syntropic farming, by contrast, fosters a dynamic and resilient ecosystem and – by being a witness to the forces of nature and allowing it to work its magic – humans not only improve soil health; they also get access to a wider variety of plants, leading to healthier and more nutritious diets.

Syntropic agriculture for peace and prosperity 

With the support of experts from A Little Wild, Malaysia’s first syntropic farm in Kota Tinggi, Johor, and with funding from Deutsche Bank, GPFM took the idea of SA into the villages of Malaysia, to rejuvenate the ecosystem, promote biodiversity and provide a sustainable means of livelihood for the Orang Asli. 

The project partners supported the villagers by providing them with everything they needed to transition and embark on their SA journey, including training, tools and seedlings. Through continual engagement and sharing of experiences among the community, GPFM has given the Orang Asli confidence in building a way of life that thrives in harmony with the environment. The programme fosters self-reliance and resilience and has reinvigorated the villagers’ traditional knowledge as SA resonates deeply with the Orang Asli’s cultural values and allows them to continue their way of life as custodians of the land – as guardians of the delicate balance that sustains them.  

A better life 

SA is now firmly integrated in the village of Bukit Biru and has had a positive impact on the lives of those who live there. Jamida is certainly a changed man. “Our farm is flourishing. We have harvested our produce,” he says, proudly holding up a yam that he has grown from a seedling.  

Since adopting SA practices, Jamida now successfully grows a variety of fruit and vegetables that includes lemon grass, corn, okra, chili pepper, pineapple, banana, soursop, coconut and durian. By selling his harvests along with the chips his wife Yati makes from their produce, he earns up to 800 ringgits a month. This income has brought significant improvements to his family’s quality of life – and to the lives of all the villagers. Last year, they showed that they can even produce high-quality crops on a larger scale when they harvested 1,500 bundles of lemongrass from their plots, which is about 105 kilograms.

“Syntropic farming is like a network of roots. The plants thrive by helping one another. It is a truly remarkable concept,” says Mamak Ali, one of the Orang Asli supported by GPFM.

Nowadays, Jamida is no longer downcast about what he has lost; he wakes every morning to a new-found richness. After spending time in the nearby forest collecting bertam, he returns to the village, where he spends his afternoons tending his plot of land, clearing the grass around it and planting a variety of crops for him and his fellow villagers to harvest.

The partnership between Global Peace Foundation Malaysia and the Orang Asli is more than just a local success story; it is a model for how sustainable development can be achieved globally. As we face the dual crises of environmental degradation and social inequality, projects like this offer a blueprint for building a future where humanity and nature thrive together.

Joanne worked on this article together with Jill Winter. It was published in October 2024.