Ghimbo Adat Pomuan (Hutan Adat)

The origins of the Kenegerian Kampa are referred to by some as the “river of dew” and by others as “campa”. Currently, the river of dew and the word campa originate from the history of the Chinese dynasty long before being incorporated into the governance system of the Kedatuan Sriwijaya of the Island of Paco. This governance system is also known for its leadership of “Tali Bapilin Tigo” or “Tungku Tigo Sajorangan” which consists of Traditional Leadership, State Leadership, and Religious Leadership. No one knows exactly when the region of Kenegerian Kampa was opened and built. In the past, the people of Kenegerian Kampa lived by shifting cultivation (mengasang). Several families gathered in one place and worked together to clear the forest for planting all their food needs.

As is known, the Kenegerian Kampa region located on both sides of the Kampar river/batang is a fertile area that attracted incoming communities from the Muaro Takus Kingdom who sought new fields and livelihoods in this region. Accounts from several community leaders mention that for hundreds of years, four tribes have lived and developed under the leadership of four datuks in Kenegerian Kampa as traditional leaders of the tribes, including the Domo Tribe led by Datuok Temenggung, the Piliang Tribe led by Datuok Bosau, the Malay Tribe led by Datuok Tiawan, and the Pitopang Tribe led by Datuok Majou Bosau. Each Datuok according to the provisions of “four jinni then surrounded by bondue nan four” means having four traditional leaders in one tribe, namely one datuk, an officer, a dubalang/panglimo, and a malin, where these four tribal leaders are led by one datuk and have their respective duties and functions. Over time, the four tribes that first inhabited Kenegerian Kampa have developed into six tribes to this day.

The Indigenous People of Kenegerian Kampa have protected and managed areas passed down through generations, namely Ghimbo Adat or Customary Forest. The Ghimbo Adat owned by the Indigenous People of Kenegerian Kampa consists of Ghimbo Adat Pomuan and Ghimbo Adat Bonca Lidah. Ghimbo Pomuan means a forest given—so named because in the past, the wood from this forest was used as a reserve to meet the needs of public facility buildings and the children of Kenegerian Kampa who would build houses. The terms and conditions for taking wood are regulated by Ninik Mamak to ensure that wood extraction is not excessive, but rather according to need. However, currently, the use of Ghimbo Pomuan wood for public facilities and for children who will build houses is no longer allowed. This decision is the result of a deliberation by the ninik mamak. The reason is that if this is done, there is a high possibility that the Ghimbo Pomuan Customary Forest will be depleted, which would have negative impacts on the indigenous community that relies on the forest for their livelihood, such as threats to clean water sources and irrigation as a reservoir for agriculture and fisheries of the Kenegerian Kampa community. However, the prohibition on cutting trees in the Ghimbo Pomuan Customary Forest has exceptions for children whose houses have been affected by disasters, such as fires, so that the affected children can rebuild their burned houses.

Meanwhile, Ghimbo Bonca Lida means swamp forest (Bonca) shaped like a tongue (Lida). Inside this forest, there is a small lake shaped like a tongue. Previously, the Ghimbo Adat Bonca Lida was combined with Ghimbo Pomuan into one expanse of forest. However, due to the high demand from the community for land for cultivation, the forest is currently “separated” into two areas with an area of 108 Ha Ghimbo Boncalida and 56 Ha Ghimbo Pomuan.

Both areas have been protected for generations by the Indigenous People of Kenegerian Kampa—especially Ninik Mamak and Anak Kemenakan. In addition, there are also external parties that assist the Indigenous People of Kenegerian Kampa in the advocacy and support process related to the recognition and protection of the rights of the Indigenous People of Kenegerian Kampa, such as: the Kampar District Government, the Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago Kampar (AMAN Kampar), the World Resources Institute (WRI), Bahtera Alam, and Pelopor Sehati.

Initially, the community utilized the Ghimbo Adat Pomuan area as a source of raw materials for herbal medicine, but gradually over time, this herbal concoction began to be abandoned by the Kenegerian Kampa community. Currently, Ghimbo Adat Pomuan and Ghimbo Adat Boncah Lidah are only managed as protected areas for the biodiversity of the Kenegerian Kampa community. The Ghimbo Adat Pomuan and Ghimbo Adat Boncah Lidah areas are communally owned and cannot be sold. Utilization is also limited only to the Kenegerian Kampa community. Currently, the wood from both areas can no longer be taken—but that does not mean there is no utilization at all. The community is still allowed to utilize wood products under certain conditions, such as experiencing a fire disaster. In addition, the community is still permitted to utilize non-timber forest products, such as medicinal plants, fruits, and ecosystem services in the form of ecotourism. However, this utilization is done responsibly.

The regulations in the management of customary forests are mostly passed down through generations, but some have also been written and included in the RPHA (Draft of Customary Forest Management). The Indigenous People of Kenegerian Kampa have very strict customary regulations, especially prohibitions on taking wood from the customary forest. This is done because the current condition of the remaining forest area is no longer feasible for wood extraction. If forest destruction occurs by irresponsible individuals, especially logging/wood theft, the person will be processed according to the customary law applicable in Kenegerian Kampa. If someone commits wood extraction/theft in the customary forest, the perpetrator must “batitiok darah”—which means the perpetrator of wood theft must shed blood, namely by slaughtering a buffalo or goat depending on the level of offense committed. The problem-solving process in Kenegerian Kampa is carried out using customary law. If it cannot be resolved through customary law, it will be continued by involving the police.

The institution responsible for managing the Ghimbo Adat Pomuan and Ghimbo Adat Boncah Lidah areas is the Kenegerian Kampa Customary Forest Management Institution (LPHA Kenegerian Kampa). All decisions related to the management of Ghimbo Adat are determined through consensus deliberation—the highest decision lies in the results of consensus deliberation, in accordance with the customary saying “Beraja pada mufakat, bermufakat pada yang benar.”

• Structure of LPHA Kenegerian Kampa

Chairperson: Responsible for leading the subordinate fields, developing LPHA, and accountable to Ninik Mamak as the holder of the Customary Forest authority and coordinating with the Village Government regarding the implementation of programs to be formulated, representing the Institution to make agreements or agreements with other institutions according to the results of deliberation.

Here are the rules regarding the mechanism for imposing sanctions for violations of wood theft or destruction of customary forests:

1. Children/relatives who witness wood theft by irresponsible parties report the thief/destroyer to ninik mamak.
2. Children who report together with ninik mamak visit the location of the wood extraction/place where the evidence is found, and the evidence is documented.
3. After sufficient data and evidence are available, Ninik Mamak will meet the uncle of the perpetrator, if the perpetrator is a child of the relatives (local resident), if not a child of the relatives, the perpetrator will still be summoned and tried according to customary law, if they refuse to be summoned, the perpetrator will be reported directly to the authorities (Police).
4. The perpetrator is asked for information and confession in front of the Ninik Mamak about the incident of wood theft.
5. The Ninik Mamak will negotiate to decide the case.
6. After negotiations, the ninik mamak will impose sanctions/punishment on the perpetrator.
7. If the perpetrator does not admit their mistake and does not want to pay the fine set by the ninik mamak, the matter will be brought to Positive Law, namely reporting to the authorities, namely the police.

If in the trial process the person does not speak honestly and ‘becomes evasive’, the imposed sanctions can be much greater. The customary sanction imposed on the perpetrator is to shed blood by slaughtering a buffalo or goat (depending on the level of offense committed). The slaughtered buffalo/goat will have its meat distributed to the less fortunate community. The fine applies to anyone who commits violations of wood theft in the Ghimbo Bonca Lida and Ghimbo Pomuan Customary Forests, without exception. In the customary law of Kenegerian Kampa, there is a customary term “kok tatayok dikembalikan, kok tamakan dimuntahkan”—which means “In any condition, items that have been taken from the forest must be returned”. This is one way to keep the customary forest preserved.

The management and protection of Ghimbo Adat Pomuan and Ghimbo Adat Boncah have contributed to the preservation of forest ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity within them. The Indigenous People of Kenegerian Kampa have consciously committed to protecting these two areas even though they previously utilized them actively. This is done because the Indigenous People of Kenegerian Kampa adhere to their cultural values to protect the forest and take responsibility for forest damage caused by prioritizing the principle of taking firm action against forest destroyers, such as “batitiok darah” for committing slaughter for offenses against forest destruction and “kok tatayok dikembalikan, kok tamakan dimuntahkan” to be responsible for anything done to the forest. The protection of these two areas is carried out as a form of their anticipation against negative impacts that occur. Through the local knowledge of the Indigenous People of Kenegerian Kampa and their life relations with the forest, they think about the future and the fate of future generations who will also depend on the forest for their livelihoods. This is done as an effort to protect water sources found in the forest and biodiversity such as the wood within it.

The biodiversity found in the Ghimbo Adat Pomuan and Ghimbo Adat Boncah areas consists of various types of wood, medicinal/herbal plants, and fauna. The types of wood available include Meranti, Cabodak Ghimbo, Momponiang, Biangan, Potai Imbo, Jelutung, Toghok, Meranti Gambuang, Meranti Kulik Buayo, Kuranji, Petatar, Tampui. Then, the types of medicinal/herbal plants include: Sundak Langit (Medicine for Back Pain), Pasak Bumi (Medicine for Joints, Malaria, Appetite), Kombang Simangkuak (Medicine for Internal Heat), Galinggang (Medicine for Ringworm), Buah Ampolu (Medicine for Fever), Buah Kulim (Medicine for Poison, Kitchen Spice), Buah Bengkek (Medicine for Stomachache), Daun Siminyak (Medicine for Increasing Breast Milk), Daun Pisang Kolek (Medicine for Headache), Daun Kaduduak (Medicine for Wounds), Pasak Bumi, Bajaka, Buah Sanggul, Aka kasok, Zingiberaceae. And various types of fauna, such as: Long-tailed Macaque, Lutung, Beruk, Several types of Birds, Tipai Jonjang, Tpai kecik, Bingkaruang, Phyton Snake, Green Snake, White Stork. Furthermore, the efforts to protect these two areas contribute as an ‘asset’ or wealth owned by the Indigenous People of Kenegerian Kampa as a customary forest to be owned/recognized legally through state law and valid forever to be preserved for future generations.

The Indigenous People of Kenegerian Kampa have a special regulation that governs their recognition and protection as a subject of rights and recognition of protected areas, namely the Customary Forest Ghimbo Bonca Lida and Ghimbo Pomuan of Kenegerian Kampa in Kampa Village and Koto Perambahan Village, Kampa District, Kampar Regency through the Decree of the Kampar Regent Number 660-328-IV-2019. In addition, the Indigenous People of Kenegerian Kampa also have written documents containing information about Customary Forest, Customary Territory, and the Indigenous People of Kenegerian Kampa. Furthermore, these written documents also contain information about the management plan for the customary forest and a work plan adjusted to the potential development of the Customary Forest Ghimbo Bonca Lida and Ghimbo Pomuan.

The Indigenous People of Kenegerian Kampa have an action plan/follow-up plan to protect and maintain the managed areas with their commitment to strive:

1. Strengthening the Management Institution of the Customary Forest in the form of training and support as well as assistance.
2. Assisting the Development of Tourism specifically in 2 customary forests in Kenegerian Kampa.
3. Creating alternative economic sources so that the managers of the customary forest can obtain economic value from the management of the customary forest.
4. Strengthening the Stingless Bee Honey Business Unit in the Ghimbo Boncah Lidah Customary Forest which is currently abandoned.