In this Valley Immersion, we travel to Kampung Dagat, Lahad Datu, a wetlands region subsumed by the State’s Totally Protected Area (TPA) estate. Artisanal fisheries, orangutan conservation, solar mini-grid development, community-based tourism, citizen science and sustainable livelihoods all converge in this rich and complex seascape. Here, we explore the possibility of communities playing active roles in the co-governance and co-management of their territories of life through dialogue, and joining in citizen science efforts and local livelihood activities.