Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity
Vol. 26 No. 6 (2025)

Ethnobotany of sacred plants and agricultural rituals among the Kanayatn Dayak in Ambawang Village, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

SITI USWATUN HASANAH (Department of Mathematics and Natural Science Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Tanjungpura. Jl. Prof. Dr. Hadawi Nawawi, Bansir Laut, Pontianak 78124, West Kalimantan, Indonesia)
SYAMSWISNA SYAMSWISNA (Department of Mathematics and Natural Science Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Tanjungpura. Jl. Prof. Dr. Hadawi Nawawi, Bansir Laut, Pontianak 78124, West Kalimantan, Indonesia)
WOLLY CANDRAMILA (Department of Mathematics and Natural Science Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Tanjungpura. Jl. Prof. Dr. Hadawi Nawawi, Bansir Laut, Pontianak 78124, West Kalimantan, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
05 Jul 2025

Abstract

Abstract. Hasanah SU, Syamswisna, Candramila W. 2025. Ethnobotany of sacred plants and agricultural rituals among the Kanayatn Dayak in Ambawang Village, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 26: 2882-2894. The Dayak Kanayatn people in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, uphold their customs, reflecting their dependence on nature through traditional ceremonies that utilize plants, which are vital for their cultural and heritage conservation. These rituals not only have social value but also aid in biodiversity conservation through locally inherited wisdom. This research documents the use of plants in Bahuma, the traditional agricultural rituals of the Dayak Kanayatn community, conducted in Ambawang Village, Kubu Sub-district, Kubu Raya District, West Kalimantan, to support the preservation of their traditions and ethnobotanical knowledge. The study took place from March to July 2023 across four hamlets (Tanah Kuning, Parit Sembilan, Kuala Ambawang, and Medan Sri). The study employed surveys, field observations, semi-structured interviews with key informants, and documentation of plant specimens used in ceremonies. Data analysis qualitatively categorized agricultural rituals and their associated plants, organizing the information by name, classification, parts utilized, significance in rituals, and collection locations. The community preserves the Adat Bahuma agricultural ritual, comprising six key ceremonies related to rice planting and involving 24 plant species, primarily from the Araceae and Poaceae families. While reflecting their spiritual connection to rice cultivation and reliance on local plants, the Dayak Kanayatn community faces challenges in conserving declining species crucial to their cultural practices.

Copyrights © 2025






Journal Info

Abbrev

biodiv

Publisher

Subject

Agriculture, Biological Sciences & Forestry Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology

Description

The Biodiversitas Journal was first published in 2000 by the Department of Biology, FMNS, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Indonesia, then in 2006 it was co-published by the Society for Indonesian Biodiversity and that department; since 2017 it was also hosted by Smujo. From 2003-2012 it was ...