Should the Indonesian government wish to seriously handle the corruption cases, they should learn it from the dayak Iban in Sungai Utik in the regency of Embaloh Hulu of Kapuas Hulu District, West Kalimantan. The Ibans live as if the have no ambition of making excessive profits by conducting corrupted practices. They choose to live simple an in a communal way. The have no ambition of which the “modern people” possess nor to perform corruption practices. They never think of destroying the forest area in where they reside and manage. But one should not take the effort of the Ibans perform in preserving forest areas for granted. At the moment the Ibans reside in the katumenggungan of 7 villages namely Jalai Lintang’, Lauk Rugun,Mungguk,Pulan, Apan(Langgan Baru), Ungak, dan Sungai Tebelian

The Dayak Iban serious effort in preserving forest areas finally drew the attention of the central government. In Agugst 7, 2008, the son of Dayak Iban Bandi Alnak Ragai, also called Pak Janggut received the Sustainable Forest Management Certification for Kampung Sungai utik community. The certificate was handed over by MS. Kaban, the Forestry Minister.

Since 2004 to 2006 Lembaga Ekolabel Indonesia (LEI), Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN), Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI), and European Union have conducted collaboration work program in Kampung Sungai Utik, Embaloh Hulu Regency, Kapuas Hulu District of West Kalimantan Province. The work program involved 3 community extension organizations in assisting and preparing the Sustainable Forest Management standard implementation of which the traditional community groups are capable of playing the role.

Taufik Alimi, the Executive Director of LEI said that since March 2008, PT. Mutu Agung Lestari (PT.MAL) –acting as LEI accredited quality certification provider — has conducted series of Sustainable Community Based Forest Management assessments. Forest certification (ecolabel) assessment is an appreciation that what the Sungai Utik community has performed in preserving the forest area deserves to be acknowledged by granting them the Sustainable Forest Management Certificate .

The successful handing over Sustainable Forest Management Ecolabel Certificate was held in a Rumah Panjang located in ; Jl. Lintas Utara Putussibau-Badau Km. 77,8, Embaloh Hulu Regency, Kapuas Hulu District of Kalimantan Barat Province.

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The Dayak Iban serious effort in preserving forest areas finally drew the attention of the central government. In Agugst 7, 2008, the son of Dayak Iban Bandi Alnak Ragai, also called Pak Janggut received the Sustainable Forest Management Certification for Kampung Sungai utik community. The certificate was handed over by MS. Kaban, the Forestry Minister.

Since 2004 to 2006 Lembaga Ekolabel Indonesia (LEI), Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN), Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI), and European Union have conducted collaboration work program in Kampung Sungai Utik, Embaloh Hulu Regency, Kapuas Hulu District of West Kalimantan Province. The work program involved 3 community extension organizations in assisting and preparing the Sustainable Forest Management standard implementation of which the traditional community groups are capable of playing the role.

Taufik Alimi, the Executive Director of LEI said that since March 2008, PT. Mutu Agung Lestari (PT.MAL) –acting as LEI accredited quality certification provider — has conducted series of Sustainable Community Based Forest Management assessments. Forest certification (ecolabel) assessment is an appreciation that what the Sungai Utik community has performed in preserving the forest area deserves to be acknowledged by granting them the Sustainable Forest Management Certificate . The successful handing over Sustainable Forest Management Ecolabel Certificate was held in a Rumah Panjang located in ; Jl. Lintas Utara Putussibau-Badau Km. 77,8, Embaloh Hulu Regency, Kapuas Hulu District of Kalimantan Barat Province.

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The main purpose of the Minister’s visit is to hand over the Ecolabel certificate to the Sungai Utik Community member. Sungai Utik community members have succeeded in managing their forest area sustainable and free of illegal logging activities. In Kapuas Hulu, only Sungai Utik traditional forest area that no illegal logging activities are performed. The forest area is well preserved and no Malaysian investors have succeeded in exploiting it as they did to other area a few years a go. It took 20 minutes for the Minister’s helicopter to find a good landing zone.

“During that 20 minutes I was just thinking that this would be the second time I failed to visist the Rumah Panjai (long house) in Sungai Utik. But through my prayer and strong will to meet the community members here, my helicopter finally managed to land,” said the Minister when conveying his remarks. The audience applauded his remarks.

The Minister’s contingents is welcome by the Vice Bupati , Drs. Y Alexander, Msi, Sungai Utik traditional leaders, Head of Police Chief, Head and staff of Embaloh Hulu regency. A traditional Dayak Iban welcome dance accompanies the contingent on the journey to the Rumah Panjai (long house). “I have met with the traditional leaders of Sungai Utik Rmah Panjai , and based on the discussion we had I was determined to visit this area and directly meet the community members of this village. What I want to see is that this area can be more advanced compared to other area as the community members have managed to preserve their forest area,” praised the Minister.

According to the Minister, the ecolabel certificate granted to the community is the first ecolabel certificate LEI ever given to traditional community group in Indonesia. “We surely hope that this can be a historical moment for sustainable forest management system of which directly performed by traditional community group in Indonesia,” he said.

Kaban explained that, sustainable forest is forest in which river flood during the rainy season, never dry during the draught and the water stays clean. Community members rside in the area have access fish, rattan and enggang. Birds can be found on the top of tall trees and fly around the area. “If you can see and hear animals in the forest, then it can be said that the forest is well preserved,” said Kaban.

Kaban added that the government must put its effort to provide guarantee and protection for the traditional forest management system. “While keeping up with the recent development, it is often the case that we neglect the wisdom of the local traditional value. This is important because we have to pass the value on to the next generation,” he explained.

Kaban added that due to the well preserved forest area, the community reside area should be better, developed, smarter and updated to the recent situation.
“The government, in this case the Forestry Department, will clearly state that forest areas such as Sungai Utik area are protected by the law’, Kaban assured.

For the government, forest management must be guaranteed. Forest can not be possed and solely be exploited. We should not do the same mistake in managing the forest as we did in the past.
Kaban explained that in the near future, the government through the Forestry Department will issue the Forestry Minister Regulation through this regulation the existence of traditional forest and ulayat forest possessed by the community of which border area is clearly defined and communally maintained can be protected by law. “The state has the responsibility to protect everything covered in Indonesia area,” said Kaban.

Meanwhile, the vice Bupati, Y Alexander,Msi, said that the community of Kapuas Hulu, especially the Rumah Panaji community members honor the Ministry’s visit. There has been no Minister ever visist Kapuas area. “We hope that this visit can encourage us to improve our efforts in managing the forest area and keep it preserved,” he said.

The Vice Bupati explained that he will follow up it up by synchronizing the Forestry Office and District government programs in forest preservation efforts.
“We will coordinate with Forestry Department, especially for the matter of forest preservation offort budgeting,” he explained briefly. (wieK)

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The head of Iban community in Sungai Utik,Bandi, also known as Pak Janggut, said that they have managed to preserve the forest condition like the original condition since they moved to the area for the first time in 1972. “Forest is the well of the earth. From forest, water flows, the soil is also well-maintained. Without this land, we are nothing,” said Pak Janggut explaining their basic thought in preserving the forest.

Successfully preserve the forest area for 38 years, the Dayak Iban tribe residing along the Sungai Utik river is granted the ecolabel certificate. “Sungai Utik traditional community has shown the evidence that forest can be preserved if managed traditionally,” said Taufiq Alimi, the Director of Indonesian Ecolabel Institute (LEI) during the certificate handing over ceremony in the rumah panajng of the Iban Utik tribe, Thursday (7/8). According to Taufiq there are three main parameters for the achievement namely the ecology, social and economy aspects. “At least a total area forest area of nine thousand hectares has been managed from generation to generation, and the Iban is capable of maintaining it up until now,” Taufiq added.
The certification, according to Pak Janggut, has convinced them that they have taken the right way in preserving their forest. Most forest areas located close to theirs are deteriorating due to logging industry exploitation. There are three logging industry ‘surrounding’ their forest area namely PT Benua Indah, PT Bumi Raya Utami WI, and PT Landjak Deras Jaya Raya of which claimed owned by investors from Malaysia and send their products to Malaysia.

Attending the ceremony, the Forestry Minister MS. Kaban said that what Utik community performed is evidence that forests can be managed in a traditional way and with which the forest can also be preserved. “Other traditional community groups can learn from this situation. Traditional forest management method can be acknowledged by the ‘modern’ world,” said Kaban. The vice Bupati of Kapuas Hulu District, Drs Alexander MSc, is also grateful for the certification. In his remark he mentioned that the government should take Iban’s contribution in preserving their forest into account when making the local budget policy. It is time for the government to consider community’s participation in forest preservation effort when determining the local budget so that the budget can be distributed not only being based on the total size of the area as currently practiced. (sulung prasetyo)

“Dayak Iban tribe holds its cultural value strongly, and they refuse the investor’s offer to exploit their traditional community forest area. This is why the forest area is still well managed until now. This is a rare local wisdom, and after undergoing a series of Sustainable Community Based Forest Management (SCBFM) assessment, we grant the first ecolabel certificate in Indonesia”, said Taufiq Alimi, the Executive Director of Indonesian Institute Institute, in Putussibau, Kalimantan barat, Wednesday (6/8).

The handing over ceremony was scheduled on Thursday The ecolabel scheme for traditional community forest in Sungai Utik commenced in 2004–2006. At that time LEI, AMAN, Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI), and European Union held a collaborative program in Kampung Sungai Utik. The collaborative program also involved three community advocacy organizations based in Pontianak. The three organizations are Lembaga Bela Banua Talino (LBBT), Pemberdayaan Pengelolaan Sumberdaya Alam Kerakyatan (PPSDAK), dan Program Pemberdayaan Sistem Hutan Kerakyatan (PPSHK).

On March 2008, a series of SCBFM certification assessment was held by PT. Mutuagung Lestari (MAL) as the quality certification body under LEI’s accreditation. The result of the forest certification (ecolabel) assessment stated that the community of kampong Sungai Utik is entitled to receive the sustainable forest management certificate. (ant/slg)

ANTARA journalist reported, the statement was conveyed by the minister after handing over the ecolabel certificate from LEI to Bandi “Pak Janggut” Anak Ragai (83). Pak Janggut is a “Tetuai Rumah Panjai”- a title of the most influenced traditional figure– of Dayak Iban tribe in Sungai Utik. The ceremony was also attended Taufiq Alimi (LEI’s Executive Director) Abdon Nababan (AMAN’s Secretary General), Alexander (the vice Bupati of Kapuas Hulu) and other important figures. LEI, AMAN, Multi Stakeholders Forestry Programme (MFP), guarantor institutions, and the government of Kapuas Hulu District collaboratively held the occasion.
Sungai Utik village is a part of Kapuas Hulu mountainous area adjacent to Malaysia’s Serawak Border. The area can is only three hours away from Putusibau, the capital of Kapuas Hulu District, and can be reached by land transport. The minister’s contingent arrived to Putusibau by using helicopter. MS. Kaban conveyed that Sungai Utik community indeed deserves the world community’s appreciation as what the community has performed achieved is not an overnight effort. The community has conducted their effort for decades amid the big challenge from the neighboring country, they can still hold out. “So, I think the Sungai Utik community really deserves something that make them proud of doing such efforts. This must be followed up, we have to do something to turn the forest into the source of prosperity for this community, and we have to collaboratively prepare it,” the ministry added.

Kaban added that with the involevement of NGOs, traditional community association (AMAN) and LEI, he hopes that the ecolabel certificate can be used as the first step for the next development phase. “This can be the example of how other Indonesian traditional community should manage their forest area,” he said. According to Kaban, there should be a follow up action after the certificate is received. Should it not be followed up the certificate alone will bring no implication to the community’s life and might lead to an unfavorable psychological effect. “We need to find out other things to offer for future needs, for example we can be environmental service provider, (join the) carbon trade, of which can benefit Sungai utik community members. This should be our first priority,” he said

Mismanaged
The ministry also added he would like to stress that forestry sector must play the role as the source of of prosperity for the community. “It is very important not to mismanaged the forest areas, and we must try hard to maintain and preserve the area as well as to prevent other people to exploit Sungai Utik’s natural resources for their own benefit,” he said. He also hopes that the noble effort can be continued and doesn’t stop upon receiving the certificate. In this way, the 25 years hard work that has been performed by the community, under the leadership of “Pak Janggut”, can really mean something for the life of the community members, both in “Rumah Panjang” and for the community in general.

“In this way, we can tell the whole world that if they should manage forest areas in the most appropriate way, they can look at Sungai Utik for an example. This is something that we have to say to the world,” said Kaban. Meanwhile, AMAN’s General Secretary, Abdon Nababan said that the effort performed requires protection, guarantee, and support from the government and the state. This is to steer clear of the tempting offers from the Malaysian big buyers to buy woods from the preserved area. “Aside from the support and protection from the government and the state, the balance between the economy benefit and ecological interests should also be maintained,” he said.

Taufiq Alimi, the Executive Director of LEI, stated that Sungai Utik Dayak Iban’s resoluteness of which resulted in saying no to the tempting economic offers is an example of the cultural initiative that can be used to battle illegal logging activity, and it has brought positive impacts. “Dayak Iban tribe holds its cultural value strongly, and they refuse the investor’s offer to exploit their traditional community forest area. This is why the forest area is still well managed until now. This is a rare local wisdom, and after undergoing a series of Sustainable Community Based Forest Management (SCBFM) assessment, we grant the first ecolabel certificate in Indonesia’” he said.

ANTARA reporter who follow the activity from Putusibau reported that the handing over ceremony was scheduled on Thursday (7/8) attended by the Forestry minister, M.S. Kaban, the Governor of Kalimantan Barat, Drs. Cornelis and other stakeholders such as NGOs, local government and Indonesian donor institution for traditional community forest. The ecolabel scheme for traditional community forest in Sungai Utik commenced in 2004–2006. At that time LEI, AMAN, Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI), and European Union held a collaborative program in Kampung Sungai Utik. The collaborative program also involved three community advocacy organizations based in Pontianak. The three organizations are Lembaga Bela Banua Talino (LBBT), Pemberdayaan Pengelolaan Sumberdaya Alam Kerakyatan (PPSDAK), dan Program Pemberdayaan Sistem Hutan Kerakyatan (PPSHK). The organizations prepared the standard implementation of Sustainable Forest Management practice in which the traditional community is capable of playing the role.

On March 2008, a series of SCBFM certification assessment was held by PT. Mutuagung Lestari (MAL) as the quality certification body under LEI’s accreditation. The result of the forest certification (ecolabel) assessment stated that the community of kampong Sungai Utik is entitled to receive the sustainable forest management certificate.

He explained that in 2004–2006 LEI, AMAN, Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI), and European Union held a collaborative program in Kampung Sungai Utik. The collaborative program also involved three community advocacy organizations based in Pontianak. The three organizations are Lembaga Bela Banua Talino (LBBT), Pemberdayaan Pengelolaan Sumberdaya Alam Kerakyatan (PPSDAK), dan Program Pemberdayaan Sistem Hutan Kerakyatan (PPSHK). The organizations prepared the standard implementation of Sustainable Forest Management practice in which the traditional community is capable of playing the role. On March 2008, a series of SCBFM certification assessment was held by PT. Mutuagung Lestari (MAL) as the quality certification body under LEI’s accreditation. The result of the forest certification (ecolabel) assessment stated that the community of kampong Sungai Utik is entitled to receive the sustainable forest management certificate.

Taufiq explained that the main spirit to convey to the public both at national and international level is that amid the forest exploitation and conversion to plantation and mining area, a traditional community group still exist and managing their forest area by using their local wisdom. This is a good example forest management practice. “Their resistance in taking woods in large scale is actually based on their traditional beliefs of wood utilization. Taking woods in large scale of volume is actually something that their local belief is forbids. “This is the main idea enabling them to preserve their forest area later on’” said Taufiq.

Rumah panjang (Long House)
According to Taufiq Alimi, Iban’s loyalty to the traditional norms can not be separated from the existence of their “Rumah Panjang”. Rumah Panjang ot Long House is Iban’s identity and symbol of solidarity. Rumah Panjang plays an important role in controlling the access to and ownership of an area for both inter and intra village community members. Taufiq added that under the leadership of Tuai Adat, village head, tumenggung and his hulubalang all problems related to daily issues can be addressed and resolved at “Rumah Panjang” meeting.

Meanwhile, Pak Janggut, the Tuai Adat of dayak Iban in Sungai utik explained that the community has been managing forest area in accordance to rules and traditions they obtain from their ancestors. The rules and traditions have been practiced from the old days until now. “There is always fish and vegetable for everyone, community members understand their respective area borders as previously agreed upon and the border to the national park forest has laso been marked,’ said Pak Janggut. The traditional area of Dayak Iban tribe in Sungai Utik is adjacent to Betung Karihun National Park (TNBK) which lies in the border of three countries, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalm.

“This is an ideal condition for the village to build their long house of which other nearby villages around Sungai Utik do not posses”, said Taufiq. The government policy of rumah sehat” or healthy house is implemented in the other villages thus making the community members difficult to build their long house. In addition to the problem, forest concessionary areas are also being expanded in the surrounding area, so even if the community members manage to build a long house, the house will be too small and insufficient to accommodate the whole family members. This was the main factor separating Iban big family into to smaller nuclear families.

LEI study conducted in 2005 revealed that community members who reside outside the Dayak Sungai Utik tribe area found it difficult to resist the Malaysian investors offers to sell the woods from their traditional forest areas. LEI researchers Satria Astana, Wibowo Djatmiko, Semiarto Aji, Luhut Simanjuntak and Wahyu F Riva stated aside from the financial profit from the logging industry, the Malaysian investors also offered to build Rumah Panjang should the community members are willing to sell the woods generated from the traditional forest to them. Rumah Panjang plays an important in determining the status and identity of a certain group of community. There is a competition between community groups to build better Rumah Panjang. The Malaysian investors really understand the situation and take advantage of it. Sungai Utik Dayak tribe is very proud of their old and original Rumah Panjang. Other community groups of Dayak people outside Sungai Utik that possess no Rumah Panjang have the desire that someday they will have Rumah Panjang that they can be proud of.

For this matter, logging business is closest thing for these community groups to achieve their dream of having a Rumah Panjang. The Malaysian investors really understand and take advantage of this situation by giving promise to the community members that they will also build asphalted road and set up electricity system in addition to the Rumah Panjang. When the logging industry reched its glorious time, other villages located outside Sungai Utik Iban area have managed to have Rumah Panjang (better than the Sungai Utik Iban’s) completed with electricity and better road facility. Nevertheless, environmental degradation such as muddy river area resulted from the industry is a negative impact that they have to pay as an exchange of the above facilities.

Responding to this situation, Pak Janggut said that the nature and river are the breath of human beings. If they are not protected they will bad impact to the community. “Water is blood and soil is a place where human is originated will come back later on,” he said. However Pak Janggut is concerned of forest exploitation activity for both plantation and plantation forest purposes. This was due to the fact that Dayak Iban tribe of Sungai Utik area is strategically located close to the border of Serawak, Malaysia. This village is adjacent to two other villages namely Kampung Mungguk and Kampung Lauk Rugun. Embalok Hulu regency shares the border with Serawak at the North and West sides, Putussibau Regency at the East side and BAtang Lupar regency at the South side. Kapuas Hulu District shares the border Serawak (Malaysia) at the North side, Kalimantan Timur at the East side, Sintang District at the South sand West sides.

Sungai Utik forest is rich of various species of wood trees. The dominant species are meranti and kapur. Other species are ladan, gerunggang (wooden roof material), kempas, and jelutung. The Dayaks use the woods for the material to make boat, for fire wood despite the fact that the tree species are of high price and easily sell. “The biggest problem is to prevent the forest area to be converted to Industrial Plantation Forest area or Palm oil plantation area,” said Pak Janggut. He convey the fact during the LEI study when asked what would be the biggest problem the Sungai Utik community faced with regard to sustainability issues. With the ecolabeling process the effort to maintain Sungai Utik Dayak community can be carried out. On Mei 2008, PT. MAL stated that this community has passed the sustainable forest management assessment.

“The community requires written acknowledgement so that they have the documents and can show it to the world. Certification is an important step to take and provide benefit to the community. Sungai Utik certification is an example for other area. “Community must keep up with the world’s change,” he said. (N42)