Development that aims to prosper the community is a characteristic of sustainable development. This time, Episode 3 of the miniseries “Recording the Gem of the Land of Papua: Keeping the Ancestral Land” will tell how the Moi tribe has protected their land with the concept of space that has been passed down to their children and grandchildren.
If in Maluku it is very famous for the Sasi tradition, in western Papua precisely in the Moi Tribe there is the term Egek which is almost the same concept as Sasi, namely the prohibition of taking marine and agricultural products within a certain period of time. Egek is a concept of spatial division or zoning applied by the Moi Tribe to protect their forests. Egek is divided into 3 zones, namely Soo, Kofok, and Egek.
Soo is a core zone that cannot be crossed, let alone cut trees in this area. Kofok (sacred place) is a zone that stores history and clan totems, including the core zone as well. Then the last Egek is a limited utilization zone, there are times when the area can be utilized (when egek is open) and there are times when the area is prohibited from being utilized (when egek is closed). Usually the Moi Tribe carries out prohibitions or egek in sago hamlets, fish ponds, and nests or perches of birds of paradise.
The Moi people are very aware that nature provides everything for survival. In order for these needs to be met and well maintained they apply this Egek tradition, which is considered very effective in preserving the natural resources they utilize for survival.
The role of the government is very important to determine policies in development in Papua. Collaboration with communities that already have traditions such as the Moi Tribe is very important to maintain and preserve, because Papuans are very dependent on their nature.
In addition to the Egek tradition that must be maintained, agroforestry and bird watching ecotourism is one of the sustainable developments that are in harmony with nature. Preserving forests and birds will bring other economic sources for the survival of the Papuan people.
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