Tembawang

History of the Sepotong Village Community

Sepotong Village is believed to have originated from a community that once settled in Sekadau. This is based on geographical, linguistic, cultural, and customary similarities. Initially, this community consisted of small groups scattered in several locations or "Dukuh" (settlements/ huts within Tembawang), such as Pancor, Gemantong, and Sobai. Around the year 1800, a figure from Tayan named Pateh Manca came to the Pancor Community and married Puya, a native girl from Pancor. Through his wife, Pateh Manca invited the separated communities to join and establish a new community. Over time, these communities gathered and established three Rumah Botang, which are now located in Tembawang Rumah Botang.

Legend of the Belian Wood and the Origin of the Name Sepotong Village

Around Rumah Botang, there is a nameless river (currently called Sungai Pocak). At one time, when the villagers were nanggok—fishing during the dry season, they found a piece of belian wood (hardwood) without a base and end (a piece). According to the story, this wood appeared in a dream as a sacred wood (rajo keramat) that requested to be placed downstream of the Tang Kam Buloh river. After being moved to Tang Kam Buloh, the villagers dreamed again that the wood did not want to be placed downstream of the river because it was disturbed by Jang Tahunang (a Dayak mythological creature guarding the pool). The wood requested to be returned to the nanga/mouth of the Sungai Pocak. However, the wood then requested to be returned again to Tang Kam Buloh. After that, this wood appeared again in the villagers' dreams, stating that it wanted to be moved downstream to the Daka river (the sacred Rajo Pindah). However, when it was about to be moved, the wood disappeared and was suddenly found already in the Daka River. This legend of the belian wood became the origin of the name Sepotong Village. According to the story, this sacred wood wanted to be placed in the Daka River to protect the Dayak village from disturbances.

Management Practices of Tembawang

Tembawang is an area of forest dominated by fruit trees and trees of high value for the local community, such as Paoh, Duku, Nyatoh, Ensarai, Durian, Gandaria, Lembacang, Kandis, Tengkawang, and others. Historically, Tembawang was a former settlement area or dukuh—a temporary dwelling around the fields where the ancestors of the local community planted the area with fruit trees among the forest trees. Over time, these Tembawang areas were managed together by one or more “lawang” (family groups) and passed down through generations. The ownership of Tembawang is communal, meaning it cannot be sold. However, there are also Tembawang areas that are now managed individually as private ownership. The size of Tembawang is not limited or divided based on formal boundaries. The area of Tembawang depends on the capacity of one lawang in managing and caring for the existing land.

Tembawang serves as a source of livelihood and income for the surrounding community, especially as a producer of local fruits. In addition to consumption, the harvest from Tembawang (fruits) is also sold to meet daily needs. Furthermore, the community utilizes it as a source of natural spices, wild food, medicinal plants, ritual plants, and other sources of protein.

Community members are allowed to pick fruits and harvest other forest products in Tembawang, but there is an exception for honey. One honey tree is owned by a specific owner, usually the person who first discovered the beehive in that tree. This Tembawang is protected by the community and is not to be cut down indiscriminately; anyone who violates this will be subject to customary law according to regulations. The main rule in Tembawang is the prohibition of cutting down trees, especially fruit trees and trees of high value. Nevertheless, the caretaker of Tembawang has special authority to cut down trees in case of emergency. Some Tembawang in Sepotong Village are closely related to history as they are remnants of old villages, the legacy of longhouses, and/or contain ancient graves. One of them is Tembawang Rumah Botang. In this location, there is a longhouse and a sacred grave of the ancestors of the Lawang Limat Entangor indigenous community that is hundreds of years old. This area is considered sacred by the local indigenous community. Anyone who intentionally clears the forest of this sacred grave will face negative consequences for the violator, such as mystical diseases, Dampo, Kibangk.

Contributions to Biodiversity

Tembawang dominated by fruit plants has a significant contribution to the conservation of various local fruit varieties. The local fruits that are preserved include durian, ensarai, pekawai, teratong, temberanang, sinai, mao, ntaok, peluntan, kapuok, sibau, rangkong, linang, mato momar, rambutan, blood starfruit, kapol, jatok, linsum, lemayong/wild duku salak, langsat, bunyau, rambai, kapol encariak, pandau, mpaong, gandarria/satar, salaer, paoh, lembacang, lembawang, asam pulas, kweni, kemantan, mampelam, berangan, tebodak/cempedak, jelayan, tingkas, marau, kepayang, kelampai. Tembawang serves as a model for Multi-Level Conservation because it not only preserves various types and varieties of local fruits but also maintains the forest ecosystem that contributes to carbon sequestration.

Recognition and Protection of Rights Holders/ AKKM

There are currently no specific regulations that legally govern the management of AKKM Tembawang in Sepotong Village.