FORINA Supports Hatabosi Community in Winning the 2020 Kalpataru Award for Local Wisdom in Orangutan Habitat Conservation

On the slopes of Mount Sibual-buali in South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, lies the Hatabosi Indigenous Community, renowned for its deep commitment to environmental preservation. The name Hatabosi is an acronym derived from the four villages they inhabit: Haunatas, Tanjung Rompa, Bonan Dolok, and Siranap. These villages are bound not only by the ancestral lineage of the Pasaribu clan from Batak Toba but also by their shared dedication to conserving the natural environment that sustains them.

More than just inheriting traditions from their ancestors, the people of Hatabosi take on the great responsibility of protecting the forests and water sources that support their daily lives. In many ways, they serve as a model for how local communities can harmonize traditional wisdom with modern conservation efforts.

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Protecting the Forest, Protecting the Future

What makes Hatabosi unique is not just its rich cultural traditions but also its dedication to environmental conservation, particularly in the Sibual-buali Nature Reserve—home to endemic flora and fauna, including the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan. This area also serves as a vital water source for the surrounding farmlands.

The village of Haunatas, the oldest in the area, has been inhabited since 1907. Located 30 kilometers from the district capital, Sipirok, it is the center where Hatabosi ancestors established customary laws governing water and environmental management. A local proverb, “Sian harangani do mual ni aekta, sian aeki do mual ni ngoluta,” which means “From the forest comes our water, and from water comes our life,” remains deeply ingrained in the community’s values.

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Customary Law That Binds Nature and People

In Hatabosi tradition, irrigation management is regulated through customary law passed down through generations. Each recipient of irrigation water is required to contribute two cans of rice per year. These contributions are used to fund irrigation maintenance and provide wages for the Panjago Bondar—a group of water and forest guardians responsible for monitoring irrigation channels and protecting the forests from illegal logging.

The Panjago Bondar, consisting of 12 village representatives, operates under the supervision of the Mantari Bondar, a traditional leader responsible for managing water distribution and ensuring forest conservation. This system is not just a set of rules but a reflection of Hatabosi’s philosophy, where the sustainability of their lives depends on maintaining a harmonious relationship with nature.

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Kalpataru Award: Recognizing Conservation Efforts

In 2020, the Hatabosi community received the Kalpataru Award from the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry. This prestigious recognition highlights their dedication to environmental conservation, particularly in protecting the Tapanuli orangutan habitat. The award recommendation was submitted by FORINA (Forum Konservasi Orangutan Indonesia) as an acknowledgment of Hatabosi’s long-standing commitment to forest conservation. This recognition not only validates their hard work but also reinforces the importance of local wisdom as an effective solution to global conservation challenges.

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Moving Towards a Sustainable Future

Hatabosi’s success serves as an inspiration for other communities in Indonesia and beyond, proving that collaboration and collective awareness can lead to environmental preservation. Although challenges like illegal logging, climate change, and land conversionpersist, Hatabosi’s unwavering spirit and commitment offer hope for a brighter future in conservation.

This community demonstrates that protecting nature is not solely the responsibility of governments or conservation organizations it is a shared duty. Just as they have done for centuries, Hatabosi remains steadfast in safeguarding their forests, ensuring the continuous flow of clean water, and protecting the natural resources that sustain their lives.

With strong traditions, collective spirit, and visionary leadership, Hatabosi continues to set an example that conservation efforts can start locally but create a global impact. Their achievement is not just theirs alone—it is a powerful inspiration for all of us.