In Eastern Indonesia’s Spice Islands, around 1,600 kilometers east of Bali, the Kayoa people have long lived amid towering kenari trees. This region is known for its fertile volcanic soil and lush rainforests, among the most biodiverse on the planet. These forests not only shelter nutmeg and cloves, but also sustain generations of Indigenous communities.
For years, kenari trees were cut for timber, while nickel companies tempted communities with short-term cash for mining rights. In recent years, younger generations have been especially enticed to join mining companies, a trend that threatens to take root without better alternatives.
Kawanasi is reversing this trend.
By unlocking the global market for kenari nuts—nutrient-rich and similar to macadamias—Kawanasi creates lasting income for Indigenous collectors, 60% of whom are women, while ensuring the forests remain standing. The nuts are sold to both retail and wholesale buyers in Indonesia and abroad, with retail packs carrying the East Forest Kenari Nuts brand.
Kawanasi first received support from our Reciprocity Fund. Now, through Beneficial Returns Pte. Ltd., our Singapore entity that lends in Southeast Asia, we’ve provided a second loan of USD $250,000. This financing will enable Kawanasi to purchase more kenari nuts and spices, expand into new markets in the U.S. and Latin America, and strengthen community support for protecting the forest from miners.
The story of Kawanasi shows what happens when long-term, values-aligned capital meets Indigenous entrepreneurship: families gain reliable income, cultures are preserved, and rainforests remain intact for future generations.
At Beneficial Returns, we believe in doubling down on what works. That’s why we continue to stand alongside social enterprises like Kawanasi.