Tutur Cerita Lestari: Building Restorative Economy through Value Chain Collaboration
Tumpek Wariga is a crucial ceremony for many farmers and the Balinese community to maintain the balance between humans and plants to provide raw materials for food and their income.
Seeing its importance, the Earth-Centered Coalition (Koalisi Ekonomi Membumi in Bahasa/KEM) organized the Tumpek Wariga Festival on 2-4th February, with the theme "Forest in Harmony," a collaborative celebration involving multiple parties in the agroforestry supply chain in Bali. Through this activity, it is hoped that it can increase public awareness to preserve local wisdom that is in harmony with nature, in line with efforts to maintain economic resilience.
For the Coalition, the implementation of the Tumpek Wariga Festival serves as an example of applying a restorative economic model to a region that prioritizes economic sustainability while considering the harmonious balance between humans and nature. It also demonstrates how regional and national income from the management of non-timber forest products contributes to the welfare of communities and farmer groups, preserved forest conservation, and economic equality. The restorative economy is a mission that the coalition brought upon to reach a shared goal of bringing 200 million USD of sustainable investment to 100+ businesses.
In the restorative economic model, economic sustainability is not only measured in terms of material profit, but also by considering the harmonious balance between humans, nature, and the economy. The Tumpek Wariga ceremony conducted by the residents of Yeh Embang Kauh Village, in collaboration with private companies, government involvement through the Forest Management Unit/Kesatuan Pengelolaan Hutan (KPH), and active participation from the forest farmer group Giri Amerta, serves as concrete evidence that sustainability is not just a dream, but a reality that can be achieved through deep collaboration and mutual support.
By celebrating the Tumpek Wariga Festival, the communities of West Bali not only appreciate the natural produce ritually but also align human relations with nature and the economy. The concept of the restorative economic model, which views sustainability as the result of a balance between humans, nature, and profit, forms the basis for the success of all parties involved in preserving nature and enhancing community welfare. Thus, the Tumpek Wariga Festival is not just a cultural celebration, but also a celebration of collaboration and harmony between nature, humans, and the economy that inspires other regions to adopt more sustainable and balanced economic models.
In this context, the Tumpek Wariga Festival in the West Bali Forest becomes a stage to celebrate this collaboration and invite the wider community to participate in efforts to preserve nature and culture in Bali. This event not only strengthens gratitude towards nature through the Tumpek Wariga tradition but also serves as an educational and inspirational platform for the community to contribute to maintaining the sustainability of forests and balanced community life.
As the co-initiator of the coalition, Pratisara Bumi Foundation views this as a perfect opportunity to introduce its key stakeholders to their newest campaign, called Teknologi Tradisional (or indigenous technology in English). In the next 12 months, we aim to:
Raise awareness of at least 1000 youth about the importance of preserving Indonesia’s indigenous technologies,
Building the Interest of 250 youth participating in documenting indigenous technologies in their regions,
Facilitate the engagement of 100 youth storytellers through workshops and social media activities, and
Empower 10 youth ambassadors to take action to raise awareness about Indonesia’s indigenous technologies in their communities.
This campaign aligns with one of the key components of restorative economics, namely cultural value. By preserving culture and traditions, we can foster an ecosystem that supports the growth and dissemination of sustainable local products. This also promotes greater awareness of sustainability and forest conservation within the community.
“Culture is who we are, and what shapes our identity. Placing culture at the heart of development and economic policies is the only way to ensure a human-centered, inclusive, and equitable development”
-Putri, PBF Campaign and Engagement Officer.