Wana

The Toro Indigenous Community (Toi Toro) has inhabited its customary territory for hundreds of years, long before the formation of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia. They have a social, cultural, economic, religious, and customary legal system that has been passed down through generations and is still maintained to this day. The history of the Toro community originates from Ngata Malino, about 36 km east of present-day Toro.

Around the 15th century, the Malino community was forced to relocate due to attacks from the Toala tribe or the Bunian people (Tau Leru) that began from a conflict over the ownership of a golden spinning top. From this event, seven surviving families led by Mpone fled through several areas of Balinggi, Paboya, Bora, Tuwa, until they reached Kulawi. With the permission of a Kulawi noble named Balu, they opened land in Kauawu (now Mataue Village) before finally purchasing Balu's hunting grounds (now Toro Village) for seven pieces of gold as a sign of a legitimate sale.

This new area was named Toro, which means “remnant”, as it symbolizes the small group that survived the war. Since then, they have been known as the Toro people (Toi Toro) and have settled permanently in the area. Historically, their customary territory includes two main regions, namely Malino (the first customary area) and Toro (the second customary area), which form a unity of customary land for the Toro community with natural boundaries connecting them to Napu, Katu, Lindu, Mataue, Sungku, Winatu, and Lawua.

From this long journey, a resource management system based on customary law, ancestral values, and the spirituality of the Toro community has emerged, which later became the foundation for the establishment of the Community Managed Conservation Area (AKKM). According to historical records, AKKM Toro has existed for about 101–500 years and is a traditional practice that has been carried out, continued, and maintained by the community for generations.

The main objectives of the AKKM initiative include:

• Upholding customary law and respecting the wisdom of elders and ancestors.
• Preserving cultural heritage and practices, including spiritual values.
• Supporting traditional and sustainable livelihoods.
• Maintaining and enhancing natural resources.
• Preserving local culture and traditions.
• Protecting spiritual or sacred sites.
• Maintaining biodiversity and certain species.
• Controlling access to areas and resources to ensure community security.
• Enhancing recognition of rights and community empowerment.
• Developing cultural and nature-based tourism potential.

This area protection initiative then evolved into a new movement to advocate for formal recognition. Around the year 2000, the Ngata Toro Customary Institution, together with the community and supported by the Tanah Merdeka Foundation, began documenting history, customary territory, traditional knowledge, and customary rules related to natural resource management. This process was accompanied by dialogue and negotiations with the Lore Lindu National Park Authority and Forest Police (Polhut) to strengthen recognition of the community-managed territory.

Wana is an area under Wana Ngkiki, consisting of a wilderness forest (primary forest) with large trees, dense cover, and serves as a habitat for various endemic animals. This area plays an important role as an ecosystem buffer, water source, and natural conservation area. Wana is a core part of the Community Managed Conservation Area (AKKM) system that functions as customary forest, conservation area, water source, and livelihood source.

Wana is utilized in a limited manner and based on sustainability principles. Permitted activities include the collection of non-timber forest products (HHBK) such as resin, rattan, fragrances, and traditional medicinal materials. Additionally, the community may hunt animals and fish in the rivers within the Wana area if there is a customary feast in Ngata. This utilization is carried out carefully, considering ecological balance and natural cycles, so that Wana's function as a resource and life support remains preserved.

All natural resource management activities in the Ngata Toro customary territory are centered on the cultural perspective of Taluhi Katuwua (The Hearth of Life), which forms the basis of the values and morals of the indigenous community, namely:

• Hintuwu, the ideal value in human relationships based on respect, solidarity, and deliberation.
• Katuwua, the ideal value that governs the relationship between humans and the environment, based on wisdom and harmony with nature.
• Pekahowia, the relationship between humans and the Creator through worship and respect for customary rituals that align with religious teachings.

With these values, Wana is viewed not only as an economic resource but also as a spiritual space and cultural heritage that must be collectively preserved for the sustainability of communal life.

Ownership and management of Wana are communal, owned by one indigenous community collectively. Decision-making is carried out through a customary management institution that represents the entire community. Community rights are structured in layers, including:

• Full rights to utilize and manage resources recognized by customary law.
• Limited rights to certain types and quantities of resources.
• Protection rights without utilization in zones considered sacred or highly ecologically sensitive.
• Management of Wana and other AKKM areas is communally regulated by the Ngata Toro Customary Institution, which consists of:
• Totua Ngata (male elders), who provide customary and cultural considerations.
• Tina Ngata (female elders), who play a role in the implementation of customary law and ceremonies.
• Tondo Ngata, who is responsible for safeguarding and securing the customary territory, monitoring natural resource management activities, and reporting customary violations to Totua Ngata.

The customary institution functions to design customary rules, maintain and preserve customary law, advise the head of Ngata, conduct customary justice, and establish cooperation with the government and other institutions. All written rules and governance are contained in the Haropu Ngata document.

One example of the application of customary law in the management of Wana is the regulation of rattan utilization. Rattan is used for domestic and commercial needs with categories such as nteuwa, bata, togihi, mpowaloa, paloe, lampa lae, and others.

The utilization procedure is regulated as follows:

• Permission requests are submitted to the Ngata government through the Customary Institution, including the type, location, and quantity of rattan to be harvested.
• Permission decisions are determined through customary deliberation based on local wisdom and environmental carrying capacity.
• Harvesting rules stipulate that rattan that can be taken must be at least five years old, and the time and location of harvesting are determined by the customary institution based on the principle of rotation (ra ombo).
• Strict prohibitions are imposed on rattan harvesting along river basins during the rice ripening period (nakahoana), as it is believed to cause crop failure.

Through this customary system, the community ensures that the utilization of non-timber forest products (HHBK) is carried out sustainably, does not damage the ecosystem, and continues to provide economic benefits for the community.

The Wana area is a primary forest within the Ngata Toro customary territory that harbors high biodiversity, including various endemic flora and fauna species of Sulawesi. The biodiversity in Wana includes;

Flora

• Wood and Forest Plants:
• Small-sized wood
• Hardwood
• Paloha (Meranti)
• Taiti (hardwood)
• Forest pandanus
• Ferns
• Resin
• Towako
• Bonitu
• Paramata
• Agarwood
• Riada (decayed wood that glows in the dark)
• Traditional Medicinal Plants
• Kinkio – grass roots, for general medicine
• Forest sugarcane – stamina booster
• Leluha – for fresh wounds
• Tawe lepo – for falls and swelling
• Walemoa – for stomach aches
• Kau vulala – for weakness
• Vilonti – for old wounds that are festering, also used for animals
• Marangkapi wood leaves – for burns and breast cancer treatment
• Padonca – for fractures
• Vali moa – for stomach aches
• Kaun dolia – for stomach aches

Fauna

Mammals and Terrestrial Animals:

• Anoa
• Babirusa
• Civet
• Monkey
• Tarsius (Tangkahi)
• Cuscus (Kuhe)
• Squirrel (Dou)
• Forest rat (Walehu)
• Insects and Pollinators:
• Honey bees (Pangkerowani)

Birds and Aerial Wildlife:

• Bird of prey
• Honey buzzard
• Hornbill
• Balitutu
• Alo
• Lowi
• Ngkorio wala
• Tetero
• Teteka
• Kaloa
• Totohi
• Lentaki
• Tangkahi
• Limpo
• Kuluri
• Tengke
• Kea
• Wuru kou wana
• Kuan tana
• Benga
• Bambanga

The management of the Community Managed Conservation Area (AKKM) in Ngata Toro has received various forms of recognition and awards for its success in preserving the forest and local culture. Since 1986, Ngata Toro has received the Kalpataru award as a pioneer in environmental preservation, followed by recognition of Customary Territory (2000), the Equator Prize in Kuala Lumpur (2004), and the BFM Award (2011) from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK). Recognition of Customary Forest (2021), the initiation of Customary School (2023) by the Ministry of Education and Culture, and the Kalpataru Environmental Services (2024) affirm Ngata Toro's position as a forest guardian and heir to sustainable culture.

Looking ahead, the indigenous community plans several strategic steps, including:

• Conducting customary deliberations and revising customary regulations according to the needs of the community and the challenges of the times.
• Socializing customary regulations comprehensively to all members of Ngata Toro.
• Documenting AKKM/ICCA as an official document attached to the customary regulations.
• Developing Customary School modules as teaching materials to strengthen cultural education and conservation for the younger generation.