Tana' Ulen Long Berini Sungai Lapan
Province Kalimantan Utara, Kab. Malinau, Desa Sungai Lapan
History of Initiative
According to oral tradition, all Dayak Kenyah tribes originally lived together in the Apo Da’a highlands between the Iwan and Lurah rivers. As the population grew due to limited agricultural land, the Kenyah tribe began to disperse 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 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 join together into one settlement. Kenyah Leppo Maut moved upstream 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 was in the early 20th century. At that time, Nyibun was a strong sub-tribe, whereas now it has diminished 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, the right bank upstream of the Bahau River, believed that the upper Bahau area was part of Sarawak, because 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 Long Alango village. In 1960-1970, many people moved from Upper Bahau to the Malinau river and Kayan river in search of a better life (school, market, health access). After the expansion of the Pujungan sub-district into 2, Pujungan District and Upper Bahau, the community of Long Uli village (Kenyah Uma Long and Lepo Ndang tribes) originating from the upper Lurah river and Sa’an river was allowed to establish a village in the Badeng community area on the Bahau river—now it has joined the customary territory of Upper Bahau and adheres to the customary regulations of the large Upper Bahau customary region. The Great Indigenous Community of Upper Bahau has a traditionally protected area, namely: Tana Ulen’.
Tana’ Ulen is a forest area managed by customary law specifically for protection and collective use for village events). Tana ulen’ means forbidden land—meaning that forest products cannot be taken individually except collectively for the common good, such as 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 high 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 Berini River, starting from. Tebuan, a branch of the Berini river on the right. And the Abai River on the left branch of Berini.
Management Practices
Tana Ulen must not be opened and managed as agricultural, plantation, and rice field areas. Tana’ Ulen is entirely within the customary territory of Upper Bahau. 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 Great Customary Institution of Upper Bahau, whose structure includes:
- Great Customary Head:
- Coordinates the Customary Heads of each Village.
- Organizes customary deliberations to make decisions.
- Creates new customary regulations.
The decision-making mechanism of the Great Customary Institution of Pujungan is conducted through customary deliberations at the village and customary territory level attended by village heads and village chiefs; and follows the decisions of the great customary head.
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, 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 is regulated in the Customary Regulation of Upper Bahau 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 the permission of the village customary head 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.
- One fruit tree Rp. 5,000,000;-
- One Building Wood 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 Upper Bahau region.
Those who violate will be subject to a fine of:
Furthermore, the provisions applicable to the management area of Tana Ulen’ are:
Biodiversity
Tana Ulen’ is important to be protected by the Great Indigenous Community of Upper Bahau because they are highly dependent on the forest area. For them, the forest is a legacy 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 medicine, hunted animals, fruits, etc. The forest is everything for indigenous people; without the forest, they will suffer because other livelihoods cannot be pursued other than relying on the forest.
Tana Ulen’ is one of the local wisdoms of the Great Indigenous Community of Upper Bahau 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 Great Indigenous Community of Upper Bahau can still feel the benefits of the natural resources available in Tana Ulen’. This communal utilization also affects the social and cultural aspects of the Great Indigenous Community of Upper Bahau—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, fauna, and high-value timber such as:
Fauna
- Temengngang / Hornbill
- Teba’un / Ivory-billed Hornbill
- Bertalang / Stone Chat
- 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 Great Indigenous Community of Upper Bahau has a legal basis for the recognition and protection of customary law communities through Regional Regulation of Malinau Number 10 of 2012. Then, the Great Indigenous Community of Upper Bahau 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 Upper Bahau Sub-district of Malinau Regency as Customary 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.