Tana' Ulen Long Belaka
Province Kalimantan Utara, Kab. Malinau, Desa Long Belaka
History of Initiative
The customary territory of Pujungan has been inhabited for generations by the Kenyah Tribe (Uma’ Alim, Uma’ Lasan, Oma’ Long, Bakung, Badeng), Dayak Punan, and Dayak Kayan (Pua’). The history of their arrival in the large customary territory of Pujungan can be seen along the Pujungan River and its tributaries, namely: the Bum River or Lidem River. Evidence of their presence at that time is marked by the existence of cave graves (lizang bila) as historical evidence of the Kenyah tribes Uma Alim, Uma Lasan, and Uma Long who have lived in this area the longest. Uma Baka, which no longer has a village in the Pujungan area, once resided upstream of Pujungan (the plains between the Jelet River and Pujungan). As for the origins of the Kenyah tribe from the upstream part originating from the Iwan River and Lurah River (the Badeng and Penan Benalui tribes originally from Malaysia), they then migrated to the area where they still reside along the Pujungan River. The Indigenous Community of Greater Pujungan has a traditionally protected area, namely: Tana Ulen.
Tana’ Ulen is a forest area managed by customary law specifically for protection and communal use for village events. Tana ulen’ means forbidden land—meaning that forest products cannot be taken individually except when done collectively for the common good, for example, hunting land and water animals for the needs of the entire community in one village. Tana’ Ulen is a jungle or primary forest area with a high level of biodiversity that is utilized to sustain the community's livelihood. Tana Ulen’ of Long Belaka Village is located at the Menjo’ River and Mekorong River.
Management Practices
Tana Ulen must not be opened and managed as farming, plantation, and rice field areas. Tana’ Ulen is entirely located within the large customary territory of Pujungan. In terms of ownership, Tana’Ulen is a customary right in each village with specific regulations to ensure that the area remains protected. The management of Tana’ Ulen is regulated by the customary leader and supported by the village head.
- Great Customary Leader:
- Coordinates the Customary Leaders of each Village.
- Organizes customary deliberations to make decisions.
- Creates new customary regulations.
The decision-making mechanism of the Greater Pujungan Customary Institution is carried out through customary deliberations at the village and customary territory level attended by the village head and customary leaders; and follows the decisions of the great customary leader.
The community implements a ‘open ulen and close ulen’ system—meaning there is a time allowed to utilize natural resources in Tana Ulen for the common needs of the community. Every year, the community holds harvest festivals and wedding events, natural wealth such as animals and fish found in Tana Ulen’ will be utilized—depending on how many events are held in a year. In addition, it is utilized for the needs of New Year and Christmas events. All of this utilization is regulated by village customs and the village head.
The utilization and management of Tana’Ulen are regulated in Customary Regulations. Regulations for the Management of Tana Ulen Long Belaka:
- It is prohibited to cut down trees along the footpaths that cross Tana Ulen.
- It is prohibited to hunt or fish in Tana Ulen without the permission of the village customary leader or village head.
- It is prohibited to cut down all types of fruit trees in Tana Ulen.
- It is prohibited to farm or garden in Tana Ulen or open new land.
- It is prohibited to damage assets such as stone graves or ancient graves.
- To sell land in the Tana Ulen area.
- To allow outsiders to open land in Tana Ulen.
- To open or create access roads in the Tana Ulen area.
- To fish in the Tana Ulen area of other villages.
As for the provisions applicable to the management area of Tana Ulen’ are:
Biodiversity
Tana Ulen is important to be protected by the Indigenous Community of Greater Pujungan because they are highly dependent on the forest area. For them, the forest is a heritage from their ancestors that must be preserved and protected. The forest is a place for farming, gardening, traditional medicine, hunting animals, fruits, and more. The forest is everything to the indigenous community; without the forest, they would suffer because other livelihoods have not been developed apart from relying on the forest.
Tana Ulen’ is one of the local wisdoms of the Indigenous Community of Greater Pujungan related to forest management and natural resource management that has been carried out traditionally. With the management and regulations that have been applied in a limited and non-exploitative manner, it is hoped that Tana Ulen’ will be an area that is utilized and functioned sustainably so that the descendants of the Indigenous Community of Greater Pujungan can still enjoy the natural resources available in Tana Ulen’. This communal utilization also affects the social and cultural aspects of the Indigenous Community of Greater Pujungan—thus, they can continue to gather and celebrate important days with the natural resources they have preserved.
The wealth of Tana Ulen’ is very potential and abundant—this greatly contributes to the preservation of forest ecosystems and the biodiversity of flora and fauna and high-value timber such as:
Protected Fauna
- Temengngang / Enggang
- Teba’un / Enggeng Gading
- Bertalang / Murai Batu
- Blekotau / Cicok Rawo
- Manok Elang / Kutilang
- Payau / Deer
- Setong / Porcupine
- Buang / Bear
- All types of Tigers
- Lutung / Bangat
- Wa’ wa’ / Kelabet
- Dok Talun / Malu-malu
- Aem / Pangolin
- Atok / Fish
Flora (Rattan)
Building Materials
Legal Holders
The Indigenous Community of Greater Pujungan has a legal basis for the recognition and protection of customary law communities through Malinau Regional Regulation Number 10 of 2012. They have also received recognition and protection of rights through the Regent's Decree No. 660.2/k.197/2020—which establishes and recognizes the Dayak Kenyah, Dayak Punan, and Dayak Kayan tribes as Customary Law Communities in Malinau Regency.