Gunong Baate Meuasah

The first settlement of the Bulusu community was established in Baloy Buat, Ronondom, under the leadership of Yaki Atur. In Bulusu tradition, “Yaki” is an honorific title for elder men or customary leaders, so the name is always preceded by this title. During this time, the community lived a nomadic lifestyle with a shifting cultivation system, utilizing forest products, and hunting with poisoned darts and dogs. During the period of headhunting, Yaki Atur fell at Sungoi Oko, and leadership was passed on to his son, Yaki Ubay. To avoid attacks, the community experienced at least nine relocations of baloy until finally in 1972 they were moved to Respen Tangap through a government resettlement program.

During the leadership of Yaki Iros, who was later recognized by the Dutch colonialists with the title Pembakal, the community began trading in Tarakan through a barter system and paying buis (tax) to the Sultanate of Bulungan. The colonial era also brought new regulations that ended the headhunting tradition and introduced schools, although this initially caused fear among the community. After Indonesia gained independence, the title pembakal was replaced with village head, coinciding with the establishment of settled villages.

In the 1960s, religion began to enter: Islam on the coast and Catholicism in the interior, which changed the social structure and customs. In 1972, the Bulusu community of Kendari was relocated to Respen Tangap to bring them closer to health and education facilities. Although settled, they continued to cultivate fields and forests in their customary area using huts (Lubung Umo), and since the 1980s, motorboats have facilitated their mobility.

Entering the 2000s, their customary area was threatened by the entry of logging companies (2001) and palm oil plantations (2005–2008). Currently, about three-quarters of the customary area has been planted with palm oil, leading to a decrease in biodiversity. Community access is now limited to the remaining fields and jakau, while large game animals such as wild boar are nearly extinct, leaving only small wildlife that is increasingly rare.

Muruk Tiang Berayung is a mountainous area protected by the community, and its natural resources can be utilized, such as wood and honey. Besides being utilized for forest products, the mountain tiang berayung is also used by the community as a source of water and land reserves. Muruk Tiang Berayung has a mountain forest ecosystem type with large trees approximately 60 degrees in diameter with a not too extreme slope.

The extraction of wood in this muruk is limited to household needs, not for commercial purposes. Muruk Tiang Berayung has large trees with dry land and various types of trees, such as menggeris, adaw, ulin, tengkawang. Traditionally, when the community first opens a garden, they will plant Tengkawang trees because these trees grow easily. In Muruk Tiang Berayung, there are management rules, namely, it is prohibited to cut down trees within 3-4 meters of the mountain area. If this rule is violated, there are sanctions in the form of fines in the amount of tempayan/money according to the level of the offense, usually 6-8 million.

There are also general prohibitions for the entire community in the Muruk Tiang Berayung area, both on land and in water, including: 1) Prohibition for outsiders to clear and open gardens without permission, 2) Prohibition to sell residential land to outsiders other than Bulusu, and 3) Prohibition to steal; if violated, there will be sanctions. Sanctions for violators of these rules will be imposed in the form of fines in the amount of tempayan/money adjusted to the level of violation. Decision-making in customary matters is conducted through customary meetings (Pegukum) which usually take place in the customary baloy, with discussions held together with Customary Leaders, the community, and the Village Head.

Muruk Tiang Berayung, which is a mountain, contributes to the biodiversity of the mountain forest. Several important flora species found in this area include;

• Damok Tree
• Meranti Tree
• Manggris Tree

These are usually used as bee nests for the community to harvest honey later.

• Ficus Tree

Meanwhile, the fauna living around the area includes;

• Birds (Punpulu)
• Swallow (Tuwayan)
• Hornbill (Sangang)
• Monkeys, Wild Boar (Kelawod)
• Mouse Deer (Pelanuk)
• Deer (Paus)
• Antelope (Payau)
• Porcupine (Butun).

In Muruk Tiang Berayung, there are important points outside the area protected by the community, including longhouses (Baloy) such as:

• Baloy Alung Ronomdom
• Baloy Alung Lawan
• Baloy Sungoi Kayan
• Baloy Kendari
• Baloy Sungoi Kusob
• Baloy Bebiyou
• Baloy Mulud.

There are currently no specific regulations governing the recognition of the Muruk Tiang Berayung Bulusu Alung Tulou Kendari area. However, the community has a collective commitment regarding the management of the AKKM area by the broader community. The Bulusu Alung Tulou Kendari indigenous community has made efforts to preserve their customary area through the drafting of Village Regulations (Perdes). This written regulation contains the governance of forest utilization so that it is easier to understand, socialize, and serve as a basis for resolving customary disputes.

In addition, the community is also actively promoting the recognition of Muruk Tiang Berayung as Customary Forest. This recognition is expected to provide certainty and legal protection for the rights of indigenous peoples, while also safeguarding the area from encroachment or the interests of outsiders.