Traditional Elders Say Baduy Area Is Safe From Floods And Landslides: We Continue To Maintain The Preservation Of The Natural Environment

A traditional elder of the Bedouin community who is also the Head of Kanekes Village, Lebak Regency, Jaro Saija (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - The traditional elder of the Baduy community who is also the Head of Kanekes Village, Lebak Regency, Jaro Saija, stated that so far the settlements of the Outer Baduy and Inner Baduy areas are relatively safe from the threat of floods and landslides.

"We continue to maintain the preservation of the natural environment by prohibiting the cutting of trees", said Jari Saija at his residence in Kadu Ketug, Lebak Regency, as reported by Antara, Monday, October 11.

The Baduy area of 5,000 hectares consists of 2,000 hectares of residential areas and 3,000 hectares of protected forest.

The Baduy settlements are spread across 68 villages with a population of around 11,600 people so far have not been affected by floods and landslides, despite bad weather accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds.

The Baduy community in the Kendeng Mountains has a high commitment to preserving the natural environment and reforestation.

"The preservation of the natural environment and reforestation is a gift from the ancestors' ancestors that must be realized", added Jari Saija.

If the preservation of the natural environment is damaged, it will certainly bring disaster to human life, he said.

Therefore, his party asked all Baduy citizens to be obliged to preserve nature and reforestation by planting various trees and prohibiting flights.

"We believe that preserving the natural environment can prevent floods and landslides", he explained.

According to him, over the past two months, rainfall in the area of customary Baduy land rights tends to increase.

The Baduy community is currently entering the growing season for Huma, secondary crops, and horticulture.

"Tomorrow we will also plant Huma and ginger rice to be planted in the fields", explained he.

Meanwhile, Jaro Dependent 12, Djaro Saidi, said that currently, Baduy residents are consistent in protecting nature and the environment to protect against natural disasters that cause many casualties.

The Baduy community remains consistent in protecting nature and the environment so that the mountains and forests in the traditional settlement area are also sustainable. The Baduy traditional settlement is an upstream area in Banten Province with many watersheds (DAS) so it needs to be preserved.

"We continue to monitor nature and the environment so that there is no damage caused by illegal logging and exploitation of gold mining without permits in the Baduy area", he explained.