Cadas Saung

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 1958–1960, the community moved to the more accessible Ulak Lebar area, and village leadership continued to evolve from a 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, who live in harmony with the forest as a source of life and ancestral heritage. Its aim is to support sustainable livelihoods, preserve customary knowledge, and maintain the ecological functions of the forest as a water source and protector of the area.

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

Cadas Saung, also known as Himbe Akap (Dark Forest), is a prohibited forest area that has existed since the Dutch colonial era. This area consists of rock with a slope of more than 70 degrees and plays an important role as a water catchment for tributaries that flow into the surrounding rice fields. Since the transmigration program in 1990, some areas at the top of this region have begun to open up, but there are still areas of forest that remain protected. Cadas Saung covers an area of about 6 hectares, communally owned by the village, cannot be sold, and is directly managed by the Muara Saung Village Government with strict prohibitions on tree felling.

Locally, this area serves as a protected area and a source of springs for the community. Several springs and hills in the vicinity are utilized for daily needs, while Suban spring and Tenam hill are kept protected due to their remote location and status as a protected area. In managing natural resources, the community adheres to various customary prohibitions such as Ulu Tolong Buntu, Tungku Tiga, Kijang Nyelipiran, Jaring Api, Dikekas, Tube, and conducts the Ritual of Farewell to the Forest Guardian, 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 on 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

No houses may be built in the middle of the embankment (between two hills).

Tungku Tiga

Prohibition on opening houses or gardens in a pattern resembling three parallel stoves.

Violations are believed to bring misfortune or life difficulties.

Kijang Nyelipiran

Prohibition on building huts or gutters too far from settlements.

Jaring Api

When clearing land, it is forbidden to leave narrow forests between gardens.

Dikekas

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

Tube

Prohibition on poisoning, electrifying, or using explosives in rivers.

Ritual of Farewell to the Forest Guardian

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

Petaunan Sehendi

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

Prohibition during the Sepit Month (Dhu al-Qaidah)

Prohibition on carrying out major activities such as clearing land, planting, marrying, or building houses.

Cadas Saung, which consists of rock, contributes to the biodiversity of the hill forest. Some important flora and fauna species 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 memban burung leaves (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
• Clouded leopard
• Bear
• Diverse types of snakes (aurlanting, tugang, beniol, tteki)
• Murai
• Spring fish
• Pelus fish
• Mungkus
• Cengkak
• Seluang
• Softshell turtle
• Flying 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 Muara Sahung village for the first time.
• Old Tomb of Penabak (the opener of the ulak lebar hamlet)
• Tomb of Puyang Haji named Ismail,
• Tomb of Raden Abang named Kenimbur,
• Tomb of Raje Niti
• Manggahan Spring

There are currently no specific regulations governing the recognition of Cadas Saung or Himbe Akap. However, the community has a collective commitment regarding the management of the AKKM area by the wider community.