Muruk Togop (Gunung)

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 honorary title for elder men or traditional 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 raiding period, 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 colonial government with the title Pembakal, the community began trading in Tarakan through a barter system and paid buis (tax) to the Bulungan Sultanate. The colonial era also brought new regulations that ended the raiding tradition and introduced schools, although this initially caused fear among the community. After Indonesia's independence, the title pembakal was replaced with village head, in line 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 territory using huts (Lubung Umo), and since the 1980s, motorboats have facilitated their mobility.

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

Muruk Togop is a mountain area protected by the community, with a prohibition on clearing land. The community is only allowed to take natural products such as fruits and medicinal plants found in the vicinity. Muruk Togop has a water source (matotimug) located near Bosoi Popokow, which is the water source in the Popokow river. In this river, there is Liyagu (a spawning ground for fish), where fish can be caught and processed by the community as a food source.

Muruk Togop, Bosop Popokow, and Liyagu, which are managed communally by the community, also have management rules to ensure their sustainability, namely:

• Muruk Togop
• Prohibition on clearing land in the mountain area
• Prohibition on cutting down trees
• Prohibition on hunting
• Prohibition on overfishing in the river area
• Bosoi Popokow
• Prohibition on polluting the water
• Prohibition on overfishing (pait berangu)
• Prohibition on poisoning (tuba) and electrocuting fish.
• Liyagu
• The community is allowed to catch fish, but is prohibited from poisoning (tuba) and electrocuting fish.
• Prohibition on overfishing (pait berangu).
• Prohibition on polluting the water.
• Prohibition on creating fish ponds.

If these rules are violated, there are penalties in the form of fines of tempayan/money according to the level of offense, usually 6-8 million.

There are also general prohibitions for the entire community in the Muruk Togop area, both on land and in water, including: 1) Prohibition for outsiders to clear and open gardens without permission, 2) Prohibition on selling residential land to outsiders other than Bulusu, and 3) Prohibition on stealing; if violated, there will be sanctions. Sanctions for violators of these rules will be imposed in the form of fines 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 Traditional Leaders, the community, and the Village Head.

Muruk Togop, which is a mountain, contributes to the biodiversity of the mountain forest. Some important flora 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)
• Swallows (Tuwayan)
• Hornbills (Sangang)
• Monkeys, Boars (Kelawod)
• Mouse Deer (Pelanuk)
• Deer (Paus)
• Antelope (Payau)
• Porcupine (Butun).

In Muruk Togop, there are important AKKM points guarded by the community, including those around the Bosoi Popokow water source, namely the Bosoi Popokow Waterfall and Mato Timug Bosoi Popokow. In addition, there are also Baloy (longhouses) including:

• 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 Togop 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 protect 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 advocating for the recognition of Muruk Togop as a 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 external interests.