Tana' Ulen Long Berini Sungai Kali
Province Kalimantan Utara, Kab. Malinau, Desa Sungai Kali
History of Initiative
According to oral tradition, all Kenyah Dayak tribes originally lived together in the highlands of Apo Da’a between the Iwan and Lurah rivers. As the population grew due to limited agricultural land, the Kenyah tribe began to scatter in different directions, with Kenyah Leppo Ke’ moving from the upper Lurah river (Long Bena, Long Apan) through the mountains to the Beraha river. From there they moved to the Ngiam river (Long Pengayan, Long Lat) and the upper part of the Bahau River (Ka Buang, Apau Ping). Meanwhile, the Nyibun tribe's settlements were usually not far from the Leppo Ke’ settlements. If there was a threat from enemies, they would unite into one settlement. Kenyah Leppo Maut moved upstream of Bahau from the Lurah River through the upper Nggeng River and the Beraha River.
During the Dutch colonial period, the upper Bahau River area was known as “Tanah Leppo Maut”. The first Dutch expedition to the upper Bahau River occurred in the early 20th century. At that time, Nyibun was a strong sub-tribe, whereas now it has dwindled and mixed with other groups. In the past, trade flows from Upper Bahau tended to Sarawak, which was then colonized by the British. The Sa’ban tribe living in the Berau watershed, a right tributary of the Bahau River, believed that the upper Bahau area was part of Sarawak, as all their livestock were brought from the Baram river in Sarawak. The Sa’ban tribe claims to originate from this area between Upper Bahau and Upper Krayan.
In the Upper Bahau region, there are many relics from the Ngorek tribe in the form of stone graves established between 300-400 years ago. Since that time, the Ngorek tribe has left Upper Bahau for the Kayan river. In 1957-1958, most of the Lepo Maut community in Long Kemuat moved and established the village of Long Alango. In 1960-1970, many people moved from Upper Bahau to the Malinau river and the Kayan river in search of a better life (school, market, health access). After the expansion of the Pujungan sub-district into 2, Pujungan and Upper Bahau sub-districts, the community of Long Uli village (Kenyah Uma Long and Lepo Ndang tribes) originating from the upper Lurah river and the Sa’an river were allowed to establish a village in the Badeng community area on the Bahau river—now they have joined the customary territory of Upper Bahau and adhere to the customary regulations of the Greater Upper Bahau Customary Area. The Greater Bahau Hulu Indigenous Community has an area that is protected by inheritance, namely: Tana Ulen’.
Tana’ Ulen is a forest area managed by customary law specifically for protection and joint utilization 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 Berini village is located at the Lapan River, Kali River, and Upper Berini River. The Lapan River flows into the Berini river and the Kali river flows into the Beraha river and the upper part of the Berini river, starting from Tebuan, a branch of the Berini river on the right. And the Abai river on the left branch of the Berini.
Management Practices
Tana Ulen must not be opened and managed as agricultural, plantation, and rice field areas. Tana’ Ulen is entirely located in the Greater Bahau Hulu customary territory. 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. The customary institution is regulated by the Greater Bahau Hulu Customary Institution whose structure includes:
- Chief of Greater Custom:
- Coordinates the Customary Leaders of each Village.
- Organizes customary meetings to make decisions.
- Creates new customary regulations.
The decision-making mechanism of the Greater Pujungan Customary Institution is conducted through customary deliberations at the village and customary territory level attended by village heads and heads of villages; and follows the decisions of the chief of the greater custom.
The community implements a ‘open ulen and close ulen’ system—meaning there are times 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, and natural wealth such as animals and fish in Tana Ulen’ will be utilized—depending on how many events are held in a year. In addition, it is utilized for 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 is regulated in the Customary Regulation of the Bahau Hulu Region Number: 07/WLH.ADAT/BH/2016 in Chapter II Article II which regulates the provisions of prohibited activities in Tana Ulen’ for anyone, namely:
- It is prohibited to cut down trees along the footpaths that cross Tana Ulen’.
- It is prohibited to make building materials in Tana Ulen’.
- It is prohibited to hunt or fish in Tana Ulen’ without permission from the village customary leader or village head.
- It is prohibited to cut down all types of forest 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.
- One forest fruit tree Rp. 5,000,000;-
- One Building Wood tree Rp. 10,000,000;-
- For opening new land Rp. 10,000,000;-
- Damaging stone/ancient graves Rp. 1,000,000;-
- Fishing Rp. 1,000,000;-
- Hunting animals Rp. 5,000,000;-
- Village customary sanctions in each Bahau Hulu area.
Those who violate will be subject to a fine of:
As for the provisions applicable to the management area of Tana Ulen’ are:
Biodiversity
Tana Ulen’ is important to be protected by the Greater Bahau Hulu Indigenous Community 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 (shifting cultivation), gardening, and utilizing forest products such as traditional medicinal plants, hunted animals, fruits, etc. The forest is everything for the indigenous community; without the forest, they will suffer because other livelihoods have not yet been developed aside from relying on the forest.
Tana Ulen’ is one of the local wisdoms of the Greater Bahau Hulu Indigenous Community related to forest management and natural resource management that has been carried out for generations. With the management and regulations that have been applied in a limited and non-exploitative manner, it is hoped that Tana Ulen’ will become an area that is utilized and functioned sustainably so that the descendants of the Greater Bahau Hulu Indigenous Community can still enjoy the natural resources available in Tana Ulen’. This communal utilization also affects the social and cultural aspects of the Greater Bahau Hulu Indigenous Community—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:
Fauna
- Temengngang / Hornbill
- Teba’un / Ivory-billed Hornbill
- Bertalang / Stonechat
- Blekotau / Marsh Frog
- Manok Elang / Bulbul
- Payau / Deer
- Setong / Porcupine
- Buang / Bear
- All types of Tiger
- Lutung / Langur
- Wa’ wa’ / Civet
- Dok Talun / Malu-malu
- Aem / Pangolin
- Atok / Fish
Flora
Building Materials
Legal Holders
The Greater Bahau Hulu Indigenous Community has a legal basis for the recognition and protection of customary law communities through Regional Regulation Malinau Number 10 of 2012. Furthermore, the Greater Bahau Hulu Indigenous Community has received recognition and protection of rights through the Regent's Decree No. 189.1/k.335/2019—which establishes and recognizes the Dayak Kenyah tribe (Lepo’ Mau’ut, Lepo’ Ke, Uma’ Lung, Lepo’ Ndang, Nyibun), Dayak Sa’ben, and Dayak Punan who inhabit Apau Ping Village, Long Berini Village, Long Kemuat Village, Long Alango Village, Long Tebulo Village, and Long Uli Village in the Bahau Hulu sub-district of Malinau Regency as Indigenous Law Communities in Malinau Regency. It is also recorded that the Tana Ulen’ area of Long Berini is part of the Kayan Mentarang National Park.