By:  Cindy Julianty and Kasmita Widodo

“Ber-ayam kuau, berkambing kijang, berkerbau rusa, beratap lipai, berdinding banir.”  his means that they abstain from eating farmed animals, and do not cut down trees just to build a house .

 

Orang Rimba Makekal Ulu is one of several Orang Rimba groups that have lived for many years in the forest area located in Muaro Tabir District and Muaro Sebo Ulu Tebo regency, Jambi. In 2000, the government designated the forest area they inhabit as the Bukit Dua Belas National Park area to protect the living space of the Orang Rimba. In ancient times, the Orang Rimba was led by Depati, because the number of orang rimba continued to grow and more, the leadership of a group was led by Temenggung. In living their lives, Orang Rimba Makekal Ulu protects several forest areas as sacred areas, this area is then registered as AKKM Orang Rimba Makekal Ulu.  

 

The protected areas are, among others, the Tano Nenek Puyang Forest, an indigenous forest formed by the Orang Rimba Makekal Ulu Indigenous community initiative in 2010. Pebentukan this area is motivated by the high level of land requirements for rubber plantations and the presence of acaman from outsiders. In addition, Orang Rimba needs a place for traditional traditions called bebalai, rituals of the gods, where people die, where they give birth and others. Customary forest or so-called Forbidden Forest should not be opened for production activities such as gardening, because this forest is only intended for ritual activities Orang Rimba Makekal Ulu only.

 

ICCA documentation at Makekal Ulu / doc: Aldya Saputra

 

In addition, they also have other areas that have been in conservation by Orang Rimba since ancient times called Kelaka, Benteng, and Bukit Betempo. The three places are called Tano Bedewo (berdewa land) which is a place with the gods according to Orang Rimba belief, so not just anyone can enter this region.

 

“Dimano bumi dipijak disitu langit dijunjung, dimano tembilang dicacak disitu tamanan tumbuh, dimano baiwak terjun disitu anjing  telulung, dimano mentiko pecah disitu nasi tetumpah dimano tumbuh konflik disitulah penyelesaiannya”, so seloko Orang Rimba custom. The strong relationship between Orang Rimba and nature can be seen from various rules in the form of prohibitions. Orang Rimba should not destroy the forest carelessly because they have restrictions in the forest so that it should not be encroached upon and cut down let alone damaged. Because Orang Rimba considers that the area has a sacred value and has a very high function.

 

Then there are sialang trees, setubung, and tenggeris trees that should not be cut down in the forest because these trees have high cultural values and benefits. Likewise with wildlife, there are some wild satrwa that are forbidden to be consumed because they are believed to be “gods” that they respect such as Tigers, hornbills, kuau birds, Gibbons, ungko, hoops, monkeys and pangolins. The values of Orang Rimba local wisdom they believe that nature will provide a reward for humans who destroy nature for its own sake.

 

In September 2018, the Director General of Ecosystem Natural Resources Conservation, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, came to Bukit Suban, to sign a cooperation agreement with the Sarolangun government. The signing of the cooperation agreement made by the inscription was a sign of the commitment of the Hall representing the government to integrate Orang Rimba customary rules with government rules in the management of TNBD. The signing of cooperation between the Ksdae and the Soralangun government is important, as a form of recognition of Orang Rimba as the true owner of the forest area in Bukit Dua Belas National Park.