As Indonesia constructs its new capital, Nusantara, in the mountains of East Kalimantan in Borneo, the roar of chainsaws interrupts the rainforest sounds that have long been part of the cultural heritage of the Indigenous Balik community. New documentary, Sound Guardians, a collaboration between Mongabay, Scientific American and Project Multatuli, follows efforts by scientists and local residents to capture this shift in sounds. Former President Joko Widodo spearheaded moving Indonesia’s administrative center away from Jakarta, the world’s fastest-sinking city. Experts estimate that one-third of Jakarta could be underwater by 2050 owing to sea-level rise and excess groundwater pumping. Official marketing describes Nusantara as a “smart forest city” projected for completion by 2045. Wendy Erb, a bioacoustic scientist from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in the U.S., who has worked in Kalimantan for a decade, is leading the work to record the sounds of the forested landscape as the capital gets built. Her team has recorded sounds in diverse areas, from mountain tops to mangroves and caves. Erb describes this data as a “time capsule” that allows for comparisons as the environment changes with rapid economic growth and construction. This data could potentially show places where wildlife is being displaced, Erb suggests in the film. “Maybe those are places where more investment could be made in conservation efforts,” Erb said. “The question is, can we tune our ears?” Erb adds. “Can we pay attention? Can we notice when the natural world is feeling a little sick?” For Abidin, a member of…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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