Rooted in Action: Regeneration and Community

Q: Can you tell us about Ruka Corn’s mission and what inspired its founding in 2016?

Oraya Sutabutr - Rukkakorn: Ruka Corn was inspired by my earlier volunteer work with the Big Trees project, which I started 15 years ago. At that time, I noticed the rapid disappearance of large, shady trees in cities like Bangkok, being replaced by buildings and infrastructure. We aimed to raise awareness about the value of trees and prevent unnecessary tree loss. As I learned more about arboriculture, or tree care, I realized there was a gap in professional tree care in Thailand. So, I founded a social enterprise to train people as professional tree care specialists. It was a new field, but we attracted a lot of young people passionate about nature. Now, we've trained hundreds of professionals and continue working with universities and government bodies to promote long-term tree care.

Q: As a regenerative travel company, can you share Bumi Journey's mission and how you're contributing to climate action and empowering local communities?

Byanmara - Bumi Journey: At Bumi Journey, we focus on the deeper roots of climate change, addressing the disconnection between humans and nature. We believe that our harmful behaviors are driven by greed and an overemphasis on economic gain, which have distanced us from the environment. Through travel, we aim to reconnect people with nature, encouraging environmentally-friendly behavior and a stronger sense of community. Ultimately, we want people to understand that protecting the planet is essential not only for future generations but for all of humanity.

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Q: How would you describe the role of proper tree care and urban forestry in addressing today's climate challenges? How can working on individual trees contribute to tackling climate change?

Oraya Sutabutr - Rukkakorn: Trees are some of the best ways to capture carbon—they do this every second they are alive. While technologies and carbon credits exist, the simplest way to manage carbon and reduce CO2 is to have as many strong, healthy trees as possible. This is especially important in urban environments, where trees help improve air quality and the surrounding environment. Urban trees need proper care from arborists—people who understand the unique challenges of urban settings, like pavements, drainage, and utility lines. Proper pruning is vital, as incorrect pruning can damage or even kill a tree. By caring for trees, even in cities, we help sequester carbon, improve air quality, and ensure the longevity of trees for generations to come.

Q: Travel often contributes to carbon emissions. Bumi Journey is advocating for travel as a tool for regeneration—how can it actually help restore the environment and support climate solutions?

Byanmara - Bumi Journey:Traveling contributes around 8% of global emissions, mainly from transportation, which is a large number. However, in Indonesia, tourism makes up about 5% of GDP and employs 17% of the population. So we can't just stop tourism—people rely on it for their livelihoods. Instead, we believe that tourism can be a tool for regeneration. We can look at examples like Bhutan, where tourism boosts local economies, restores nature, and enhances people's happiness. Our goal is to use travel as a way for people to reconnect with nature, understand environmental challenges, and experience hands-on conservation efforts that they can bring back to their daily lives.

Q: When you picture someone traveling in the most eco-friendly way, what does “restoration” mean in that context? What should they take with them back into daily life?

Byanmara - Bumi Journey:The goal is to encourage mindfulness and awareness. In cities, we often get caught up in our daily routines and forget about the larger ecosystem. We want travelers to take a moment, look around, and realize the impact of their actions on nature and the community. This mindfulness doesn’t just end when the trip is over—it’s about bringing that awareness back to daily life. Whether it's reducing waste, supporting sustainable practices, or simply being more conscious about how we interact with our surroundings, this mindfulness can lead to positive change in everyday behavior.

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Q: In Thailand, have you come across traditional or community-led practices that already align with regeneration—even before the term became widely known?

Oraya Sutabutr - Rukkakorn: Yes, while Rukagon (tree doctor) isn’t always rooted in communities, we’ve encountered community forests—small forest patches managed by villages, not the state. These villages collect fruits, leaves, and other forest products, using them sustainably. Although not directly tied to Rukagon, some of our trainees return to their hometowns with new skills and become local tree doctors—blending ancestral wisdom with modern tree care. That’s a form of regeneration: people moving back to their roots, healing personally, and applying new knowledge to traditional ways of life.

Q: In Indonesia, are there cultural practices you grew up with that already embodied regeneration, even before it became a modern concept?

Byanmara - Bumi Journey: Absolutely. Regeneration is deeply rooted in Indonesian culture. For example, in Java we have the belief in Sangkan Paraning Dumadi, which teaches unity with nature and the divine. A beautiful practice I experienced in Raja Ampat is Sasi—a local tradition where communities pause activities like fishing or harvesting for weeks or months. This allows ecosystems to regenerate, ensuring abundance for the future. It’s a deeply cultural way of managing resources for long-term sustainability.

Q: In times of climate urgency, how do you balance long-term ecological goals with communities' immediate needs—like needing fish today?

Byanmara - Bumi Journey: We follow three steps. First, we listen—because we often come from outside the community, and it's crucial to understand their real struggles, not assume them. Second, we prioritize—balancing what the community truly needs with broader goals like climate adaptation. Third, we show examples—demonstrating success stories that bring both environmental and economic benefits. When people see what works in practice, they’re more likely to support and join the journey.

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Q: Is there a person that really captures the spirit of regeneration — someone you'd want to shout out?

Oraya Sutabutr - Rukkakorn: Yeah, for my inspirational story, I’ll talk about Pimang — this guy I’ve been working with on a mangrove island next to the Jabria River. It’s a unique environment, under threat from development and land buying. But Pimang and his friends are headstrong in preserving their ancestral land. They’re planting and preserving the mangrove trees on their lands. Even though there are protected areas, they make sure their connected pieces of land stay intact for future generations. Last week, we went mangrove palm planting with him, and we’ll do it again when the Goodera group comes next month. They’ve had this land for generations and can make a living from it. That’s important — it’s not just history, but also about sustaining themselves. Conservation can’t rely on people being volunteers forever. So it’s a win-win when inspiring people like Pimang get support — from us, from Goodera — and together we can help places like this last longer. He has nieces and nephews, and hopefully his grandchildren will continue his big goals. That’s very much what Bumi Journey is doing — responsible tourism.

Q: How do you design volunteer opportunities that move beyond one-off activities to help build long-term capacity and ownership within communities?

Byanmara – Bumi Journey: Yeah, sure. So the first part is from the project point of view — the project itself has to be part of some long-term goal. We partner with communities that actually have long-term goals, so we can continue supporting those gradually. From the volunteer point of view, what we do at Bumi Journey is increase awareness — as Oraya said — regenerating not only the environment, but also ourselves. We want people to be more aware, more knowledgeable, more caring, more compassionate, and to have more meaning toward nature and fellow human beings. So we encourage a sense of belonging first. And once they go back to their comfort zone, we hope they don’t easily forget what they’ve done or the educational sessions we’ve had. That’s often proven — we have corporate clients, and quite often after the trip, individuals reach out and ask, “What can we do again? How can we add more?” That’s very touching, and it shows they want to move forward and beyond what they’ve already done.

Q: Imagine it’s 2050 and regenerative practices have been fully embraced. What does the world around you look like? What’s changed in how we live, work, and relate to nature?

Oraya Sutabutr - Rukkakorn: Okay. So what I’d like to see happen for real is that we not only have vibrant community forests in remote areas or mangrove forests like Bakatao, but also in urban areas. I want to see urban forests — vibrant trees, not just to look at, but for shade, for food. Fruit trees. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just walk along the street and pick mangoes or seasonal fruits? That’s already happening in some cities, but if regeneration is in full swing, hopefully even urban people will see trees as part of their livelihood — food sources, not just public trees watered by city workers. I want people to be genuinely connected again. I really relate to what was said earlier about this lost connection with nature. So yeah, I want to see that connection reborn and alive again — even in urban settings.

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Q: What is your vision for the future of ecotourism in 2050?

Byanmara - Bumi Journey: imagine a world where “regeneration” becomes a common term and practice. While Oraya talked about regenerating nature, I’d add the human side—where people are less selfish, care for their mental well-being, and work with purpose, not just for a paycheck. On a societal level, this would mean reducing poverty and economic desperation through compassion and community. On a national level, it would look like a world without corruption or greed—just people doing good for one another.

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Q: How have you personally practiced regeneration in your life?

Byanmara - Bumi Journey:I grew up in Jakarta, a busy and polluted city, and felt very disconnected from nature. I used to think insects were disgusting and didn’t understand their value. But as I learned more, I realized how important insects like ants are—they help decompose organic matter and support the ecosystem. Now I’m more mindful of their role and try not to harm them. I’ve also cut down on buying packaged snacks from mini markets, knowing that waste could end up harming marine life. It’s about being aware of how everything is interconnected.

Oraya Sutabutr - Rukkakorn: My husband and I recently finished building a house about 40 minutes from Bangkok, on land that belongs to my mother. She already had a cottage and a pond there, and we’ve worked to bring back native plants, fish, and turtles that naturally belong to the area. We don’t keep a lawn or ornamental plants—just let native vegetation grow.

We’ve seen butterflies, grasshoppers, fireflies, dragonflies, and birds return. It's peaceful and satisfying. I'm not feeding or owning them—we just co-exist. Funny enough, people have started giving us turtles that fit the ecosystem, and now we have six in the pond. They look after themselves, and I just make sure the water stays clean and natural.

Q: What’s the vision for the future of regenerative travel in Southeast Asia? And what milestones is Bumi Journey working toward?
Byanmara – Bumi Journey: We’re currently transitioning from a carbon-focused approach to one centered on nature connectedness — that’s a major milestone for us. While we still use climate as our entry point for communication, since it’s what most people relate to, we’re now deepening our education programs and strengthening our connection with communities.

Looking ahead, we aim to support more regeneration efforts across Indonesia — building bigger and deeper connections with both nature and local communities. We’re also inspired by the regenerative tourism movements we’re seeing in other Southeast Asian countries, like Thailand. Our hope is that regeneration goes beyond just the planet, and fully embraces the people too — bringing us together in a more unified, sustainable ecosystem.

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Q: If you could leave our listeners with one action they could take today to support ecosystem regeneration, what would it be?
Oraya Sutabutr - Rukkakorn: I think it’s actually very easy. You can start by switching to natural alternatives for insect control. There are so many options now, and you don’t have to use harmful chemicals that wipe out all the insects in your backyard. Choosing natural solutions helps keep that ecosystem intact — even in your own garden.

Byanmara – Bumi Journey: I’d say: start by spreading awareness — even if it’s just to one person. After every session, we remind people: if just one person shares what they learned with someone else — a friend, family member, or child — that’s already more than enough. This is a marathon, not a sprint, and we want people to bring these topics into everyday conversations. Also, don’t judge others. Everyone’s on a different path. You don’t need to be perfect — no plastic overnight or switching entirely to public transport. Just start small, like not using pesticides in your garden. Most importantly: just start, with whatever you have. And be kind to others doing the same in their own way.

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