Bakul Budaya Community of the Faculty of Humanities (FIB) and Makara Art Center (MAC) held a series of Sedekah Hutan UI 2024 titled “Environmental Conservation Efforts through Local Wisdom and Sustainable Lifestyles (Friendly from Home)”. The event took place in three places: the FIB UI Courtyard, MAC UI Building, and UI City Forest on June 1-5, 2024. The annual event was held for the commemoration of Pancasila Day and World Environment Day.
The series of Sedekah Hutan UI 2024 opened with a cultural cavalcade from the FIB UI Court to the UI Forest. The traditional ceremony was followed by the release of birds and fish into the wild, as well as symbolic tree planting by representatives of the Bakul Budaya Community and MAC UI. More than 350 participants attended the event wearing traditional clothing from various regions, such as Gayo, Minang, Bali, Bugis, Sunda, Java, Dayak, and Papua.
According to the Chairperson of Bakul Budaya, Dewi Fajar Marhaeni, Sedekah Hutan UI 2024 aims to recognize the values of local wisdom in environmental conservation efforts. Indigenous peoples in Indonesia and the world have anticipated environmental damage without damaging the ecology, so these values need to be adopted. In addition, the movement of Home-Friendly needs to be encouraged to minimize waste to landfill, create awareness of the importance of sorting and utilizing waste, and build a circular economy in the community.
Therefore, four traditional leaders shared their experiences related to environmental conservation actions based on local wisdom. They are Garut Regency Cultural Expert, Asep Santanna; Kasepuhan Ciptagelar/Gelar Alam Jambatan, Yoyo Yogasmana; Outer Baduy Woman of Local Wisdom, Sariyah; and Local Wisdom-Based Environmental Guardian, Eko Wiwid Arengga. Eko, who works around Mount Gede, said that the ancestors of the Indonesian people had an environmental perspective, one of which was proven by the existence of rasamala and puspa trees. “The rasamala tree is a perch for eagles, while the fragrance of the puspa tree invites tigers and leopards to sharpen their nails on the tree trunk. If these two types of trees are cleared, it is not impossible that wild animals will be affected,” he said.
Therefore, a limiting rule is needed so that forest and environmental sustainability is maintained, as applied by the Baduy community. Sariyah on that occasion explained the provisions in the Baduy Tribe in land management. There is land used for settlement and agriculture, but there is also a forbidden forest. The rules must be obeyed by the Baduy Tribe because if violated, the balance of nature can be disrupted.
Meanwhile, Yoyo Yogasmana and Asep Satanna highlighted the importance of indigenous peoples to coexist with modernity and technology, such as the people of Kampung Adat Ciptagelar, Sukabumi, who utilize Hydroelectric Power Plants (PLTA). Collaboration between local wisdom and technology is needed to maintain the balance of nature. The involvement of tradition is important because its benefits have been felt by the community.
Head of MAC UI, Dr. Ngatawi Al Zastrouw, said that solutions to current environmental problems can be found through tradition. According to him, Sedekah Hutan is a scientification of local wisdom and ancestral knowledge systems related to efforts to protect nature and preserve the environment. “When nature is damaged, environmental ecosystems are destroyed due to human greed, so that disasters threaten human life.
Therefore, we need to explore the knowledge system in the tradition as an alternative to answer environmental problems that arise today,” he said.
Sedekah Hutan UI 2024, which is a collaboration between Bakul Budaya FIB UI and MAC UI, is also supported by various parties, such as FIB UI; Alumni Association (ILUNI) FIB UI; PT Freeport Indonesia; Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology; and Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
