Pngale (Hutan Rimba)

The Indigenous Community of Tau Taa Bongka living in the village of Takibangke originally comes from a group of tribes from a place called Linte Tua (now hamlet 4). The villages of Takibangke and Paranonge, along with a small portion scattered in the Pngale area (Forest). In 1980, the community began farming in a place called Uen Suke for their most dominant food needs. In 1997, through the KAT program (Remote Indigenous Communities) initiated by the Ministry of Social Affairs, three residences/houses were built with the aim of preventing the Indigenous Community of Tau Taa from being dispersed and settling in Takibangke.

In 2008, Lipu Takibangke blossomed into a definitive village until now. However, in this determination, some community groups chose to return to the village of Paranonge and hamlet Linte Tua due to discomfort with the program and the area's condition, which has the potential flood threat from the river currently located along hamlets 1-2. As a result of this condition, the community prefers to establish Lipu in hamlet 3 Tonto (Padawuyu) and hamlet 4 Linte Tua until now.

The Indigenous Community of Tau Taa Bongka has an area that is protected and specially managed through generations, namely: Pngale or Rainforest. Pngale is a rainforest that has never been touched by the community and is only used to harvest non-timber forest products (HHBK). The Pngale area has several important objects such as Lake Ligis, which is believed to have sacred or spiritual value. This area also has historical value as Bente or a defense fort during the war between the Taa Tribe and To Lage, who now inhabit the Tojo region. This area is also believed by the community to be a buffer zone for clean water sources.

Spatial Division of the Indigenous Community of Tau Taa Bongka

In general, the Indigenous Community of Tau Taa Bongka understands spatial division as follows:

• Lipu Zone, which is the village for residential purposes.
• Nawe Zone, which is the farming or gardening area, and within this area, there is Yopo (Young Forest).
• Pngale, which is the rainforest or primary forest that has never been managed for agricultural/plantation areas.

The management of Pngale is not specifically regulated by the existing customary institutions in the community. The community is allowed to take resources from the Pngale area, and outsiders can also take with the permission of the village government/customary institution. Rules and prohibitions are also not specifically written about what can and cannot be done in Pngale. However, usually, the customary institution will impose sanctions in the form of fines or Givu first if there are violations in the Pngale area that damage or harm the environment. The current customary institutional structure consists of:

• • Andeng Suni (Chairperson)
  • Tun Sese (Secretary)
  • Leadi Tumpe (Member)

The protection of the Pngale area or Rainforest contributes to the welfare of the Indigenous Community of Tau Taa Bongka. They are allowed to utilize forest products such as: rattan, damar resin, honey, agarwood, wild candlenut, for consumption or for sale in limited quantities. In addition, this protection is also related to the historical, cultural, and spiritual values of the Indigenous Community of Tau Taa Bongka—which contains important historical and sacred sites.

Pngale also contributes to the preservation of the forest and the biodiversity within it. This biodiversity includes flora and fauna such as: Anoa, Alo Bird, Cuscus, Sulawesi Eagle, Civet (Traya), Black Monkey (Macaca Nigra), Tangkasi (Tarsius), Babirusas, and various species of hooked-beak birds such as Sparrows. There are also Pitcher Plants, Orchids, Forest Bees, Damar Resin, Agarwood, and Rattan.

There is currently no legal basis or specific regulation governing the recognition and protection of the Indigenous Community of Tau Taa Bongka as a legal subject or the recognition and protection of the protected management area.