Guard of Meratus Forest

Kompas/Jumarto Yulianus

Ayal Kosal

Ayal Kosal is not young anymore. He is 75 years old. However, his eagerness to protect the Meratus Forest has never slackened. He says the forest needs to be preserved forever.

Greeted at his house at the end of March, Ayal Kosal, who is a damang (elder) of the indigenous people of South Kalimantan province, looked modest. At the time, Damang Ayal – as he is called – had just finished taking a bath after coming home from the forest. He bathed in the Wani-Wani River, which flows in front of his house. The water in the stony river is still very clear.