Jakarta. Culture plays a pivotal role in attracting tourists from home and abroad, something that is essential for the economy, as President Prabowo Subianto eyes an 8 percent growth. But all this would not be possible without the planet. Culture and the planet are deeply intertwined. The planet has given space for people to live in their own traditions. To preserve this, the government seeks to make sure that spatial planning does not harm the environment so local traditions can continue to thrive and drive the economy.

The Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/National Land Agency has initiated the RIMBA Ecosystem Corridor project. This program specifically aims at supporting biodiversity and environmentally conscious spatial planning in Riau, Jambi, and West Sumatra. Desa Nagari Adat Sijunjung village, which lies in West Sumatra, is one of the villages part of the RIMBA Ecosystem Corridor. These efforts turn out to be a boon for cultural preservation.

Desa Nagari Adat Sijunjung lies is surrounded by swathes of trees. The village is packed with over 76 traditional houses or rumah gadang that date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. The locals have even turned 40 of these houses into homestays for tourists. The population is made up of six main indigenous tribes: Chaniago Nan Sambilan Sapuluah Jo Pitopang, Piliang, Tobo, Panai, Malayu, and Malayu Tak Timbago. Travelers can see how the people still preserve the Minangkabau traditions, be it through the bakaua practices, baombai, salawat dulang, the silat martial arts, dances, randai, and more. Community life remains deeply rooted in tradition, including the Minangkabau matrilineal culture.

The village, which is accessible by a three-hour journey from Padang City, has various facilities that tourists may need. Aside from traditional homestays, parking areas, souvenir kiosks, and prayer facilities are also available. At the photo spot, travelers can take pictures with the longest row of traditional houses in Indonesia as the background.

The Sijunjung village is located between two rivers: the Batang Sukam and Batang Kulampi. Rice paddies, market, traditional hall, among others, are adjacent to the river. The place is a culinary haven with unique treats such as rendang belalang (the grasshopper dish), rendang pakih, galamai, and many more. The village is also a center for crafts such as weaving and songket.

It is also abundant in traditions. They have the so-called “marosok”, the tradition of making livestock transactions while having their hands covered by a cloth. It symbolizes shame and politeness. In the past, livestock such as cows were considered family heirlooms that must be protected. For the Minang people, selling heirlooms was a shameful act. There is also the Tanduak Dance, a traditional dance that depicts a buffalo fight between the Pulau Paco Tribe in Minangkabau and the Medang Kamulan Kingdom. The village is also home to the Batobo tradition, in which people would work together in the fields while reciting pantun or rhymes.

The RIMBA Ecosystem Corridor seeks to improve the welfare of the local communities. Without a spatial plan, it’d be impossible for the village to thrive and preserve its culture to drive the economy. The forest ecosystem corridor is proof that spatial planning can bridge the gap between ecosystem protection and inclusive green economic growth.

Suyus Windayana, the director general of spatial planning at the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning, said that “the spatial plan and governance were crucial to prevent destructive land conversion”. The directorate general’s secretary Reny Windyawati said that “spatial planning was more than a technical document, but a shared commitment to ensuring that every inch of Indonesia's space works for sustainability.”

Nuki Harniati, the director for spatial planning, said that the “RIMBA Ecosystem Corridor shows that spatial planning can be a bridge between ecosystem conservation and an inclusive green economy.”

With the RIMBA Ecosystem Corridor, Indonesia not only protects the environment, but it also gives direct benefits to the community, ranging from clean water sources, renewable energy, to inclusive economic development.

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