Economic development often comes at the expense of the environment and culture. Indonesia is no exception. As capitalist values begin to erode traditions and living spaces of the indigenous communities, native lifestyles have been forced into dramatic transformations. Where the indigenous communities depend on the forests in Kalimantan for harvest, their livelihoods are increasingly threatened by the rampant deforestation in the region. With the widespread development of palm oil plantations, monoculture is causing the gradual disappearance of many different types of flora and fauna that the locals use for medicines and traditional rituals.

For instance, a traditional ceremony at the Paser tribes called Belian is performed for the purpose of healing the village, honouring ancestors, and seeking blessings for the environment. Lasting from one to six days, it involves collecting 100 types of plants, leaves, and roots from the forests as offerings, which is becoming increasingly difficult to assemble as forests are cleared. Many historic sites have also been destroyed, leaving little to be remembered and cared for by the next generations. Palm Spirit (2023) highlights such political tensions set within the forests, as the indigenous people grapple to protect the forests and preserve their own culture. While the future looks indisputably bleak, the work seems to capture an unwavering faith against all odds.