Sound guardians
As Indonesia builds a new capital city, the race is on to preserve the sounds of the rainforest before they vanish forever- by Aeon VideoWatch on Aeon.
Indonesia is relocating its capital city from Jakarta to a new location called Nusantara in East Kalimantan, Borneo. The move is driven by Jakarta's sinking due to overdevelopment and its vulnerability to climate change. Jakarta is one of the fastest-sinking cities in the world, with some areas subsiding by up to 25 centimeters (10 inches) per year due to excessive groundwater extraction and the weight of buildings. The new capital, Nusantara, is being built approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) northeast of Jakarta, in a region with dense rainforest. This relocation aims to reduce pressure on Jakarta, which is home to over 10 million people and faces severe flooding and infrastructure challenges.
For Abidin, a Balik elder from East Kalimantan, the sounds of the rainforest are not just background noise but a vital part of his connection to the world and his ancestral knowledge. The rainforest's soundscape—including the calls of animals, rustling leaves, and flowing water—serves as a natural guide for navigation and cultural practices. However, as development accelerates in the region, these sounds are becoming scarcer. The construction of Nusantara and the associated urban expansion are expected to further disrupt the rainforest's ecosystem, potentially driving away wildlife and altering the soundscape that Abidin and others rely on for cultural and spiritual guidance.
To preserve the rainforest's soundscape before it changes permanently, Abidin is working with a research team led by Wendy Erb, a bioacoustic scientist from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in New York. Bioacoustics is the study of animal sounds and their role in ecosystems. The team collects audio recordings from various locations in the rainforest, including caves and treetops, using specialized equipment. Their goal is to create a permanent record of the rainforest's sounds, which can serve as a reference for future generations. This effort highlights the importance of documenting natural soundscapes as part of cultural and ecological heritage.
Researchers suspect that the noise from construction and urban development in East Kalimantan is already pushing wildlife away from the area. Noise pollution can disrupt animal communication, alter behavior, and force species to relocate to quieter habitats. The rainforest in East Kalimantan is home to diverse wildlife, including hornbills and other bird species, as well as mammals like the sun bear and clouded leopard. The loss of these species could have cascading effects on the ecosystem, including reduced seed dispersal and pollination, which are critical for forest regeneration.
The short documentary titled *Sound Guardians*, directed by Leah Varjacques, follows Abidin and the research team as they document the rainforest's soundscape. The film aims to raise awareness about the cultural and ecological significance of preserving natural soundscapes. By capturing these sounds before they are altered by urban development, the documentary seeks to create a lasting record for posterity. The project also underscores the importance of indigenous knowledge in understanding and protecting ecosystems, as Abidin's deep connection to the rainforest provides unique insights into its health and changes over time.
