By Rangkaya BadaThe sight of tengkawang trees in West Kalimantan is becoming increasingly rare. Documentation: author.
Discover Tengkawang Tungkul, the rare Borneo tallow nut from West Kalimantan. Learn about its traditional uses, cultural importance to the Dayak people, and why this valuable tree is now facing extinction due to palm oil expansion.
If you’ve ever walked through the rainforests of West Kalimantan, you might have come across a towering tree that locals have relied on for generations: Tengkawang Tungkul. Also known as the Borneo tallow nut, this remarkable tree is becoming harder and harder to find. Once a staple of traditional life, it’s now quietly slipping away as palm oil takes over the landscape.
I remember hearing stories from older Dayak folks about how their grandparents planted and cared for these trees. Back in 1881, communities already recognized its incredible value. Belonging to the Dipterocarpaceae family (the same group as many valuable meranti trees), tengkawang was actively cultivated because almost nothing went to waste.
But times have changed. Many families have shifted to palm oil because it grows faster and brings in more money. As a result, tengkawang cultivation has dropped sharply, and the trees themselves are getting scarce. In some areas, they’re now on the edge of local extinction.
What Exactly Is Tengkawang Tungkul?
Tengkawang Tungkul, often called meranti merah locally, is a species in the Shorea genus. Internationally, people know its seeds as the Borneo tallow nut or illipe nut. The red-colored seeds are packed with high-quality vegetable fat that can be turned into a rich, nutty butter.
This green butter works beautifully as a cocoa butter alternative in chocolate making. It’s also used for cooking oil, traditional medicines, candles, cosmetics, lubricants, and even margarine. The texture is smooth at room temperature, and it has a subtle, pleasant aroma that many describe as gently nutty.
Why Dayak Communities Call It the “Tree of Life”
What makes tengkawang special isn’t just the seeds. The whole tree is incredibly useful.
The strong, durable wood is perfect for building houses, plywood, and furniture. Leaves sometimes serve as natural wrappers or in traditional remedies. Even older trees played a big role in constructing longhouses.
For the Dayak people, tengkawang has always been more than just a resource. It’s a symbol of harmony with nature. It was passed down from one generation to the next as part of their deep ecological knowledge. You can still hear elders say it’s a tree of life because it provides so much without asking for much in return.
The Harsh Reality: Why It’s Disappearing
The biggest threat is simple economics. Palm oil plantations offer quicker profits, so many old tengkawang trees get cut down or the land around them gets cleared. On top of that, fruiting seasons are unpredictable. A really good harvest might only happen every few years, and even then, the price for dried seeds is often low (around Rp 3,000 per kilo in past seasons).
During a strong mast year, though, one mature tree can drop an astonishing 250 to 400 kilograms of dried seeds. That’s a lot of potential income, but without steady markets or support for sustainable harvesting, it’s tough for families to prioritize tengkawang over palm oil.
Climate shifts are making the situation worse too. Irregular weather patterns are throwing off the natural flowering and fruiting cycles that communities used to count on.
Signs of Hope and Revival
The good news? Not everyone has given up. Some communities are starting to process the dried seeds into premium green butter again, both for local use and small-scale export. There’s growing interest from chocolate makers and cosmetic companies looking for natural, sustainable ingredients.
Local groups, together with government programs and environmental organizations, are pushing for replanting and better market access. It’s not just about saving a tree. It’s about protecting biodiversity and keeping cultural traditions alive in West Kalimantan.
At the end of the day, the story of tengkawang is a quiet warning. In our rush for modern development, we risk losing plants that have sustained people for over a century. But with smarter choices, supporting sustainable harvesting, creating better value chains, and respecting traditional knowledge, there’s still a chance to bring this Borneo treasure back from the brink.
If you ever get the opportunity to visit West Kalimantan, keep an eye out for these majestic trees. They represent so much more than timber or oil. They’re living pieces of history and resilience.
