What We Do 2 – Bebali Foundation

Symplocos Leaf Powder

A central request from weavers at the 2005 weavers’ festival was for a reliable supply of loba, a plant material necessary for achieving the red dye that was rare in the markets and of obscure origin.

Working with ethnobotanists from Australia and the New York Botanical Gardens, loba was identified as Symplocos cochinchinensis bark and found to be sourced unsustainably from protected forests and national parks.

In response, Bebali Foundation established the alternative collection and marketing of fallen leaves by forest communities in Ende, Flores, mapping populations and establishing management plans in collaboration with the regency forestry department.

This project has a dedicated website:
plantmordant.org

Books, Publications & Films

A core value of Bebali Foundation’s research is the return of results to community partners, which it does in the form of documentation and video.

A plant specimen collection trip to the village of Boti in Timor with taxonomists from Kew Garden’s herbarium led to the bilingual publication of a book on Boti’s useful plants.

Initiated at the 2006 weavers’ festival, Suara Budaya was a newsletter for and between weavers within Bebali Foundation’s network. Though superseded by the spread of cellphones in 2013, the spirit of Suara Budaya continues via subject-specific WhatsApp groups curated by field staff.

Workshop participants need support to share what they learn with their communities. Workshop follow-up often involves field staff bringing video of key workshop moments to weavers’ groups as prompts for sharing and discussion.

Cold-Pressed Candlenut Oil

As the local implementer for an AusAID program in 2008, Bebali Foundation facilitated the selection of a partner community in Timor, the construction of an oil press, and the training of community members in the production of cold-pressed avocado, temanu, and candlenut oil.

When the project’s international marketing partnership fell through, Bebali Foundation was left with a community that had invested time and effort into products with no market.

Key partner Threads of Life came to the rescue, developing a pH-neutral hypoallergenic dyers’ soap with no color and no scent that it uses in its dye work and is bringing to market as a self-care product.