Futa Nu Sara di Ihi (Hutan Ihi)

The Futa Nu Sara Di Ihi area can only be accessed/utilized by the Barata Kahedupa Indigenous Community living on Kaledupa Island—descendants of Sara Barata Kahedupa or outsiders who become members of the indigenous community through marriage ties. The Futa Nu Sara Di Ihi area has been protected through generations since the establishment of the Barata Kahedupa Kingdom around 1635. The management and protection of the Futa Nu Sara Di Ihi area are overseen by the Sara Barata Kahedupa Customary Institution. In terms of territorial responsibility, the responsibility is given to the head of the customary region in each sub-customary region (Bonto and Kadie). The head of this sub-customary region is called Bonto Lewuto. Meanwhile, the supervision and security of the Futa Nu Sara Di Ihi area are carried out by Pangalasa under the coordination of Miantu’u Lau Lau assisted by Fati located in the Limbo Lau Lau area.

If a dispute/violation occurs in Futa Nu Sara Di Ihi, it will be resolved through a customary court mechanism consisting of several levels, namely:

• Galampano (customary court forum at the sub-customary region level) consisting of bonto (heads of sub-customary regions/limbo), Miantu’u Pale Umbosa, Miantu’u Pale Siofa, and Saban Jara. If it cannot be resolved at the sub-customary level, it will be forwarded to a higher customary court level, namely: the Sara Barata Kahedupa level.

• Galampa To’ogo (customary court forum at the Barata level) consisting of 8 Barata officials including Bonto To Oge Umbisa, Bonto To Oge Siofa, Miantu’u Agama, Imam Barata, Miantu’u Sulu jaju Umbosa, Miantu’u Sulujaju Siofa, Manutu’u Lau Lau, and Miantu’u Langge. If it cannot be resolved at the large region level (Barata), it will be forwarded to the highest customary court which is a combination of the galampano and galampa to’oge forums called Mandarasi. All customary courts are held in the traditional house or Baruga.

In general, the rules and prohibitions that apply in the Futa Nu Sara Di Ihi area include prohibitions against destruction, such as: logging, taking stones/sand, or soil within it. Furthermore, access to the Futa Nu Sara Di Ihi area must go through Pangalasa's permission and is only for the purposes of customary rituals and collecting traditional medicine. If violations of the above prohibitions occur, the violator may be subject to sanctions determined based on the motive and type of violation, including:

• If the violation is committed due to the violator's ignorance of the applicable rules and is done in small amounts, a warning will be issued.
• If the violation is committed intentionally, sanctions (Kona’o Rolebda’o) in the form of money will be imposed, calculated based on the currency value in Kaledupa known as Boka (1 Boka = 60 thousand).
• If the violator is unable to pay, social sanctions in the form of ostracism will be applied.

Futa Nu Sara Di Ihi is protected because the Barata Kahedupa Indigenous Community has inherited rules passed down through generations to maintain and preserve their ancestral cultural heritage. Protection of Futa Nu Sara Di Ihi contributes to the preservation of forest ecosystems and the biodiversity within them. The community utilizes this area for agriculture, plantations, as a source of clean water and traditional medicine, as well as for grazing livestock. Some flora and fauna found in Futa Nu Sara Di Ihi include:

• Fauna: Maleo Bird, Cockatoo, Owl, Buri Bird, Turtle Dove, Sri Gunting Bird, Kingfisher, Kapodang Bird, Eagle.
• Flora: Kuwa, Geresa or Lontar, Bamboo, Nipa, Aren, Rumbia, Guava, Cashew, Jackfruit, Pinang Kelengkeng, Minso, Mango, Orchid, Asparageles Flower, Turmeric, Temulawak, Noni.

The Barata Kahedupa Indigenous Community does not yet have a legal basis or specific regulations governing the recognition and protection of rights or the protection of community-managed areas.