Sombak Simantas

The village of Bongkaras has a long history closely related to land ownership by the Cibro clan, one of the influential clans in the Silima Punga-punga sub-district. Initially, this area was part of the Tungtung Batu village, one of the oldest villages in Dairi. The Cibro clan obtained customary rights through connections with King Sambo from Aceh, both through warfare and marriage to Sambo's daughter. Since then, they have controlled a vast area up to the Aceh border.

Descendants of Cibro then spread to various regions. Some settled in Tungtung Batu, some migrated to Simalungun and became the Purba Pakpak clan, while others went to Tanah Karo and became the Tarigan clan. Although dispersed, the ancestral land in Bongkaras remains the center of their identity.

The history of migration has also shaped the diversity of Bongkaras village. In the early 1900s, some Cibro migrated to Karo to learn Islam, then returned and spread the new teachings. Meanwhile, migration from Simalungun and the Batak Toba ethnic group began to enter in the 1930s-1950s, followed by other migrants such as Karo, Javanese, and Sundanese. Their presence brought changes in land management and encouraged the development of agriculture and plantations, including coffee and patchouli, which once became leading commodities.

Now, Bongkaras village is known as a multi-ethnic area that continues to preserve the historical traces of the Cibro clan as the original owners of the customary land, while also being open to various ethnicities living side by side on this fertile land. This background underlies the protection of the area now referred to as the Community Managed Conservation Area initiated by the Diakonia Pelangi Kasih Foundation (YDPK) Parongil and Sidikalang.

Tombak is a forest in the form of a communal area that cannot be sold. The resources contained can be utilized by the community collectively, but the areas around the tombak that are opened into fields are individual lands. In its function, Tombak or Forest serves as the main habitat for protected wildlife, a source of livelihood, a source of spring water, and a community conservation area.

Tombak Simantas is a forest that has historically been in the form of agricultural land. This forest consists of dense-leaved jungle trees and is filled with many mixed natural woods with the largest tree diameter being 1 meter. Generally, tombak has been largely opened as individual gambir plantation land and as a reserve for community land. Each tombak has rivers that also support the water supply needs for the village and rice fields.

In terms of management, the community has the freedom to utilize the natural resources within the tombak as long as they maintain a sustainable ecosystem. The community has developed an oral regulation system to preserve resources and wildlife habitats to remain sustainable, which includes;

• Forest areas are freely utilized by the community as reserve fields.
• Prohibition on bringing pork into the forest.
• Maintaining decorum while in the forest by not speaking foul language.
• Asking for permission "excuse me" when entering the forest (by laying down leaves).
• Asking for permission when needing to urinate.
• Each tombak has individual-owned fields.

The community also regulates sanctions if there are members who steal in the field area; the perpetrator will be fined with an amount depending on the landowner. Additionally, there are social sanctions in the form of Martingting, where the perpetrator will be paraded around the village carrying a stick struck against metal, the sound produced aims for everyone to know that the perpetrator has committed theft.

The forest area is also protected by the community as it is still used for cultural activities in the form of rituals including;

Mardang Ritual

This ritual is performed when opening the forest and planting; the community will create itak gurgur, then itak gurgur is sprinkled around the seed holes, only then can the land be planted.

When planting, one person must be covered with cloth during the planting process until it is finished. The purpose is to prevent the plants from being eaten by spirits (Tolak Bala).

Boni Party and Gotilon Party are celebrations held during the harvest and planting of rice, and the events are conducted at the church.

When planting rice, the community will make itak gurgur (made of flour, sugar, coconut) that is not boiled, then it is grasped and sprinkled onto the plants.

The ritual performed during the rice harvesting process involves grasping 7 stalks of rice, then storing and hanging them in the house for 3 days, after which harvesting can commence. The purpose of this ritual is the belief that the Rice Spirit (Tondi) will be safe.

Rice granary (place to store rice): when taking rice, the granary must be surrounded by cattle to ensure that the rice does not diminish.

The Tombak area, which is a forest region, not only serves as a source of spring water but also contributes significantly to the environment and ecosystem, one of which is biodiversity. Here are the species found in the Tombak area;

Flora:

• Gambir (can be used as a stomach medicine)
• Resin
• Ailanthus
• Frankincense
• Rattan
• Hau Godang
• Wood Sitongop (rengas)
• Wood Hasupat
• Hariara
• Teak Wood
• Wood Goti
• Wood Piangin (meranti)
• Orchids
• Keras Ketala (earth peg): medicine for stomach ache and malaria
• Patchouli (can be used as a cosmetic material/essential oil)
• Longa-longa (wound medicine)
• Tiger Betel Leaf (stamina booster)
• Fern (pahu)
• Coconut
• Genjer
• Sitobu (a type of vegetable)
• Banana
• Ucim
• Cabbage (bamboo shoots)

Fauna

• Tiger
• Orangutan
• Monkey
• Wild Boar
• Siamang (Imbo)
• Hornbill
• Eagle
• Deer
• Mouse Deer
• Pangolin
• Forest Goat (belu)
• Antelope
• Blackbird (leaf river)
• Peacock
• Bear (gopul)
• Monitor Lizard

Important points located in the Marsitoguan community include;

• Tungtung Batu is the old/first village
• (statue of Pangulu Balang, Stone of Prabu Cibro clan)
• Ancestor graves
• Traditional house
• Hariara (banyan tree)
• Hulu Ni Aek

The Marsitoguan Community area in Bongkaras village is protected by regulations, namely the Village Regulation (Perdes) on the Protection of Watershed Areas and the Village Regulation on Forest Protection. The community is also focused on evaluating the natural resources available in Bongkaras village and is working to increase the productivity of the Inang Gambir group. The Marsitoguan Community is also enhancing external efforts by collaborating with the village government in gambir production.