Air Pandak

The village of Ulak Lebar has a long history that began in Dusun Enau Becangka around the year 1600, when the Semende Darat community migrated and settled in the Muara Sahung area on the banks of the Sahung River, which is now close to the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park. Ancestors such as Puyang Periksa Alam and Puyang Tabir Angin opened settlements and formed a customary social system that has been passed down to this day. Around the years 1958–1960, the community moved to the more accessible Ulak Lebar area, and village leadership continued to evolve from the demang system to modern village heads.

The Community Managed Conservation Area (AKKM) practice in Ulak Lebar is a traditional heritage that has been carried out for generations for 101–500 years. This management pattern is based on the local wisdom of the Semende community that lives in harmony with the forest as a source of life and ancestral heritage. The aim is to support sustainable livelihoods, preserve customary knowledge, and maintain the ecological functions of the forest as a source of water and protector of the area.

In its development, the Ulak Lebar community received assistance from the Ulayat Foundation in 2005–2006 in village planning, as well as from AMAN and Ulayat in 2012 in resolving land disputes with companies. These efforts strengthen recognition of the community-managed area and make AKKM a tangible manifestation of the continuity between ancestral heritage and the community's adaptation to modern challenges in preserving nature.

Air Pandak (Ayek Pandak / Short Water) is a spring located in the Bukit Ayik Pandak area at a high elevation. This spring is the main source of clean water for the village community, which has been channeled through a piping system since 2005 and is still functioning today. It is surrounded by old garden areas or hepangan that are no longer active. Although it is on private land (Junuar C.A.) and is administratively managed by the Village Government, this water source can be sold and does not yet have official protection status. Nevertheless, the community has a collective awareness to maintain the preservation of the area with a simple principle: “Do not damage the Air Pandak area.”

Locally, this area serves as a protected area and water source for the community. Several springs and hills around it are utilized for daily needs, while the Suban spring and Tenam hill are still preserved due to their remote location and status as protected areas. In the management of natural resources, the community adheres to various customary prohibitions such as Ulu Tolong Buntu, Tungku Tiga, Kijang Nyelipiran, Jaring Api, Dikekas, Tube, and conducts Ritual Pamit Penunggu Hutan, Petaunan Sehendi, and prohibits activities in the forest during the Sepit month.

The utilization of resources in this area is limited by customary law, where the community is only allowed to take natural products in certain quantities and types, and limited to areas close to settlements. This local wisdom-based management demonstrates the community's commitment to maintaining ecosystem balance and the sustainability of water sources for their lives.

Customary regulations in the village of Ulak Lebar play an important role in preserving natural resources in the Community Managed Conservation Area (AKKM). Various traditional rules such as;

Ulu Tolong Buntu

Prohibition against building houses or huts between two hills, especially around water sources.

This area is believed to be a path for spirits and must be kept natural.

Cingkai Pematang

Houses are not allowed to be built in the middle of the embankment (between two hills).

Tungku Tiga

Opening houses or gardens in a pattern resembling three parallel stoves is prohibited.

Violations are believed to bring misfortune or life difficulties.

Kijang Nyelipiran

Prohibition against building huts or gutters too far from settlements.

Jaring Api

When clearing land, leaving a narrow forest between gardens is prohibited.

Dikekas

Before burning land, garden boundaries must be cleared to a width of approximately 5 meters (3 kekas).

Tube

Poisoning, electrocuting, or using explosives in rivers is prohibited.

Ritual Pamit Penunggu Hutan

This ritual is performed before clearing land by offering offerings as a form of permission and respect for nature.

Petaunan Sehendi

Tradition of clearing land and planting simultaneously to protect each other and control pests.

Prohibition during the Sepit month (Dhu al-Qaidah)

Prohibited from conducting major activities such as clearing land, planting, marrying, or building houses.

Air Pandak, which is a spring, contributes to the biodiversity of the hill forest. Some important species of flora and fauna found in this area include;

Flora

• Meranti
• Tenam
• Seluai
• Kayu melau
• Plagan / Kruing
• Gaharu
• Damar
• Kayu lulus / Ulin
• Kayu kendikat (honey tree)
• Kayu ndelemu (honey tree)
• Kayu kemenyan
• Bancung
• Bamboo
• Various types of medang wood (including Medang Gadis)
• Diverse types of rattan
• Semuhau
• Iron stone
• Gold
• Yellow root
• Bajakah root
• Medicinal wood: sima kubung, lasih (young leaves crushed for morning baths to treat fever), tetap manau root, kundang root
• Medicinal Plants
• Lasih leaves
• Semulap root leaves (for fever/cough)
• Bajakah root
• Kekait abang manau (for drinking, cough medicine)
• Jihang abang (burn treatment)
• Lihik fruit (boil prevention)
• Cempaka sap (toothache medicine)
• Water/dew from the leaves of memban burung (eye drop medicine)
• Fat banana heart (breast milk enhancer)
• Mentuduk sap (wound medicine)

Fauna

• Tiger
• Deer
• Mouse deer
• Wild boar
• Monkey
• Pangolin
• Tenuk (tapir)
• Babirusa
• Siamang
• Orangutan
• Hornbill
• Eagle
• Kuau
• Leopard
• Root tiger
• Bear
• Various types of snakes (aurlanting, tugang, beniol, tteki)
• Murai
• Spring fish
• Pelus fish
• Mungkus
• Cengkak
• Seluang
• Softshell turtle
• Layangan fish
• Pehek
• Pelung

There are several important sites in the village of Ulak Lebar that are still preserved by the community, including;

• Ayek Suban (Tigarasa Spring)
• Ayek Pandak (Short Spring)
• Batu Tapak peritsalam; the footprint that opened the village of Muara Sahung for the first time.
• Old Tomb of Penabak (opener of the ulak lebar hamlet)
• Tomb of Puyang Haji named Ismail,
• Tomb of Raden Abang named Kenimbur,
• Tomb of Raje Niti
• Mata Air Manggahan

There are currently no specific regulations governing the recognition of Air Pandak. However, the community has a collective commitment regarding the management of the AKKM area by the broader community.