September 9-12, 2026
Pontianak, Sanggau, Sintang, and Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan
About Festival Lestari #6
Festival Lestari is a collaborative platform that brings together local governments, local communities, development partners, businesses, media, and the public to advance the vision of resilient and sustainable districts by 2030.
The festival serves as a platform to strengthen sustainable regional development by showcasing local stories, best practices, and place-based economic potential. It creates a space for diverse stakeholders to collaborate, foster collective action, and accelerate the transition toward a more sustainable and inclusive future.
Why West Kalimantan Matters?
West Kalimantan is home to one of Indonesia's richest natural landscapes. As part of the Heart of Borneo, the region encompasses tropical rainforests, extraordinary biodiversity, abundant freshwater resources, and rich cultural heritage that sustain the livelihoods of millions of people.
The districts of Sanggau, Sintang, and Kapuas Hulu, hosts of the 6th Festival Lestari, play a vital role in balancing economic development, environmental stewardship, and community well-being.
These three regencies are connected by the Kapuas River, Indonesia's longest river, which has long served as a lifeline for transportation, trade, culture, and livelihoods. Together, they showcase community-led forest management, social forestry, sustainable nature-based commodities, and local knowledge that has been passed down through generations.
Nurturing the Flow in Festival Lestari #6
Merawat Arus (Nurturing the Flow) draws inspiration from the Kapuas River, the lifeline that connects the districts of Sanggau, Sintang, and Kapuas Hulu, geographically, culturally, and economically.
For the Dayak people, "Arus!" carries a meaning beyond an expression. In the Dayak Kanayatn tradition, it is spoken in response to the philosophy "Adil Ka' Talino, Bacuramin Ka' Saruga, Basengat Ka' Jubata" as an affirmation of the values that guide communal life: justice, harmony among people, and respect for the Creator.
Inspired by these two layers of meaning, Merawat Arus is an invitation to keep the currents of knowledge, life, collaboration, and nature-based economies flowing, strengthening the connections between people, landscapes, and shared prosperity.
Festival Lestari #6 Journey
PONTIANAK: WHERE NATURE-BASED ECONOMY FLOWS CONVERGE
In Pontianak, Festival Lestari #6 serves as the meeting point for nature-based economy flows across West Kalimantan, with the Kapuas River Basin as the foundation for landscape-based transformation. Through the theme "Merawat Arus, Menumbuhkan Kesejahteraan" (Nurturing the Flow, Growing Prosperity), the festival brings together governments, local communities, Indigenous Peoples, businesses, academics, and development partners to advance a development model that protects landscapes, strengthens local economies, expands market access, and positions communities as the primary stewards and beneficiaries of nature.
SANGGAU: THE FLOW OF IMAGINATION AND CREATIVITY
Festival Lestari #6 in Sanggau is a meeting point where creativity, tradition, and multi-stakeholder collaboration come together to advance sustainable development. Rooted in local wisdom, Sanggau's approach to landscape management goes beyond protecting vital ecosystems such as peatlands and the Kapuas River.It also creates opportunities for nature-based economies through community-led ecotourism. The festival provides a space to exchange stories, share experiences, and foster collaboration, inspiring collective action toward a more sustainable future for Sanggau.
SINTANG: THE FLOW OF NATURE-BASED INNOVATION
Festival Lestari in Sintang highlights how innovation can drive nature-based development from landscape governance, policy, research, and multi-stakeholder partnerships to value creation from forests and other critical ecosystems. This transformation begins with understanding the ecological limits of the landscape while strengthening community-based enterprises rooted in nature. From upstream to downstream, diverse initiatives demonstrate how economic value can be created in ways that protect landscapes, support local livelihoods, and foster long-term sustainability.
KAPUAS HULU: THE FLOW OF LIFE IN THE HEART OF BORNEO
As part of the Heart of Borneo, Kapuas Hulu embodies the inseparable relationship between forests, rivers, and Indigenous communities. Like the headwaters that give life to a river, Kapuas Hulu forms the foundation of natural systems that sustain both people and nature. Amid growing economic pressures, the challenge is to ensure that protecting forests goes hand in hand with improving community well-being. Through the collective efforts of governments, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and partners, Kapuas Hulu continues to demonstrate how the Heart of Borneo can remain vibrant while advancing a sustainable, nature-based economy.
Nurturing for the Flow begins with showing up, connecting, and collaborating. Choose the sessions you'd like to join and become part of Festival Lestari #6. A space where knowledge, culture, innovation, and nature-based economies come together to shape a more sustainable future for West Kalimantan.
