PALU, KOMPAS – Recognition of customary forests by the state is a progressive move to ensure social justice. At the same time, this is an effort to recognize practices based on local wisdom to support environmental sustainability. The challenge moving forward will be safeguarding the 12.7 million hectares of community-managed forests.
“The recognition of customary forests signified a paradigm shift in the government’s policymaking,” Environment and Forestry Ministry Director General for Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership Hadi Daryanto said at Tadulako University in Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Wednesday (1/3).
Recognition of customary forests is part of the government’s efforts to overcome the nation’s increasingly high welfare gap signified by the Gini index standing at 0.41 from 2011 to 2015. “Therefore, between 2015 and 2019, the Working Cabinet is shifting its paradigm by aligning itself more with the local people and forest communities,” he said.
Currently, the government has recognized eight customary forests, namely the Marga Serampas forest in Rantau Kermas village, Jambi; Kasepuhan Karang forest in Banten; Kajang forest in South Sulawesi; Wana Posangke forest in Central Sulawesi; Tigo Luhah Permenti Yang Berenam forest in Jambi; Tigo Luhah Kemantan forest in Jambi; Bukit Tinggai forest in Jambi and Bukit Sembahyang forest in Jambi. Padumaan Sipituhuta customary forest in North Sumatra has also been named a reserve.
The total area of recognized customary forest totals around 13,000 hectares. This is insignificant compared to the government’s forest asset reserves, which total 12.7 million hectares.
Hadi said that as a new policy the recognition had yet to be well-disseminated and that more time was needed to implement it properly. The public played an important role in monitoring implementation. “Our team will verify the customary forests eligible for recognition,” he said.
Field monitoring shows that community-managed forest initiatives can be aligned with conservation efforts. Such practices also provide room to improve the economy of the local people, who commonly suffer from a lack of access to natural resources and thereby become subject to structural poverty.
Marena Forest
Conservation and sustainable forest use efforts are implemented by the Kulawi indigenous people in Marena village, Kulawi district, Sigi, Central Sulawesi, as witnessed in a field visit on Monday (27/2) and Tuesday (28/2). The people living on the border of Lore Lindu National Park have rules, including customary punishments, for people involved in forest destruction. With these rules, the surrounding forest is preserved.
“Currently, we are waiting for a government verification team to recognize our customary forest. Hopefully, our forest preservation efforts will be recognized by the state,” said Marena village customary head Gaspar Lancia, 54. On Jan. 25, the locals obtained official indigenous persons recognition from Sigi regency administration, a requirement for
customary forest recognition. They had also achieved several other requirements, including zoning and boundary recognition.
“We apply zoning based on our customs. We determine which parts of the forest can be used and which parts cannot be disturbed. There are rules about using the forest’s resources,” Gaspar said.
Parts of the forest prohibited for human activity are called wanangiki and wana, or core forest and jungle, in the Marena custom. Parts of the forest that can be used are called pangale and oma.
Pangale are parts of the forest used decades ago and then abandoned for natural restoration. Oma are former fields that have been rested for 25 years. Despite the land being usable for the locals, there are several prohibitions that must be observed, including bans on cutting down trees and using upstream land. Hunting rare animals in the area, including anoa, babirusa and maleo birds, is also prohibited.
Customary punishment
“Those violating the regulations will be punished with customary sanctions. These can be verbal warnings or heavy fines. This has been done several times. We have our own patrol to uphold our laws,” Gaspar said.
According to Marena customary figure Yeni Lancia Buha, 52, the people were aware of the importance of environmental protection as this would prevent landslides and floods. People were also aware that protecting the forest meant protecting tradition. “Many medicinal plants and our daily needs are supported by the forest,” he said.
Marena village head Nixen Antarixa Lumba said that sustainable management of the forest was important as it sustained the local economy. “If our harvests are poor, the local people usually look for more forest produce, especially rattan,” he said.
To preserve the forest, customary rules were applied regarding harvesting forest resources. “Rattan can only be harvested once every five years, for example,” Nixen said.
Lore Lindu National Park management head Sudayatna said that forests managed by indigenous people with strong traditions were commonly well preserved. “In Kulawi, including in Marena, the forest is in far better condition that in other areas in the national park,” he said.
Meanwhile, illegal logging in the Giam Siak Kecil and Bukit Batu biosphere reserves in Riau had been ongoing for a long time and was increasingly damaging the ecosystem. If the illegal logging was stopped, forests would be preserved. This statement was made by Riau Police chief Insp. Gen. Zulkarnain and Environment and Forestry Ministry Director General for Law Enforcement Rasio Ridho Sani in Pekanbaru on Monday. (AIK/SAH)