RECOGNITION AND PROTECTION OF CUSTOMARY FOREST RIGHTS OF THE BARAMBANG KATUTE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY SINJAI REGENCY, SOUTH SULAWESI

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the customary forest management system of the Barambang Katute indigenous community and analyze the evidentiary basis for the recognition of the Barambang Katute indigenous community. This study uses a qualitative descriptive method by systematically collecting information or data on the reasons for the lack of state recognition of customary forests of the Barambang Katute indigenous community and various forms of community activities (responses) related to the existence of customary forest management in the Barambang Katute indigenous community, Sinjai Regency. The results showed that the customary forest management of the Barambang Katute community has its mechanism, because it has many rules and local wisdom in it, namely there is a ban on cutting trees at a distance of 100 meters from the river because it is considered damaging to the river ecosystem and a ban on cutting down small trees. In addition, the long wait for the Barambang Katute indigenous community to get recognition, even though the identification and verification process has been carried out and the required documents have been submitted to the government with the proposed customary forest area being 1,116.5 hectares from the Barambang Katute customary area of 3,170.60 hectares.