Siberut National Park, located on the island of Siberut, covers 65 percent of the area covered by Dipterocarpaceae primary forests, mixed primary forests, swamps, coastal forests, and mangrove forests. This area is approximately 155 km from the City of Padang.

Conservation on Siberut Island began in 1976 with the establishment of the Teitei Batti Wildlife Reserve with an area of ​​6,500 ha based on the Decree of the Minister of Agriculture No. 670 / Kws / Um / 10/1976 October 25, 1976.

In 1979 the Teitei Batti Wildlife Reserve was expanded to 56,500 ha and changed its status to a nature sanctuary according to Decree of the Minister of Agriculture No. 758 / Kws / Um / 12/1978 dated December 5, 1978.

Through the Man and Biosphere (MAB) Program in 1981 the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) of Siberut Island was designated a Biosphere Reserve in Indonesia.

In further developments based on the Decree of the Minister of Forestry No. 407 / Kpts-II / 1993 stipulated Siberut National Park with an area of ​​190,500 which is a combination of natural reserves (132,900 ha), protected forest (3,500 ha), limited production forest (36,600 ha) and permanent production forest (36,600 ha).

Ecosystem

The potential and natural resources found within the region and outside the Siberut National Park area vary greatly. There are 7 types of ecosystems in Siberut National Park with various types of flora and fauna that live in them, the type of ecosystem on Siberut, namely:

Dipterocarpaceae Primary Forest

Located in an area that has a height and is hilly. Forest canopies are generally around 40-50 m with a height of 50 m trees are still found. The dominant tree species are Dipterocarpus, Shorea, Vatica and Hopea. Also found are other types such as Palaquium (Sapotaceae) and Hydnocarpus. In this forest type LIPI (1995) managed to record 81 species and 59 genera.

Mixed Primary Forest

Found on slopes and hills lower under dipterocarpaceae primary forest. Many tree species are represented but none are dominant. The common families are Euphorbiaceae, Myristicaceae, Dilleniaceae, Dipterocarpaceae and Fabaceae.

Dipterocarpaceae Forest Regeneration of Logs

It is a logged-over forest from several timber companies that once operated on Siberut. The area covers the North, South and East of Siberut. Some areas are dominated by pioneer plants such as Macaranga, Trema and Neolamarkis.

Freshwater Swamp Forest

This type of forest has limited and special tree flora, often dominated by Terminalia phellocarpa. There are many valleys and surrounding rivers. The most extensive wetlands are in villages / hamlets located on the east coast. The soil flora is dominated by palm, rattan feathers, pandanus and aroid.

Mangrove forest

Found along the coastline and islands on the east coast. Areas that have the widest mangrove forests such as Teluk Katurai (Southwest Siberut), Saliguma (Central Siberut), Cimpungan (Central Siberut), Pokai (North Siberut). In general, Rhizophora is the main genus and is widespread in mangrove groups on Siberut Island. The results of research carried out by Siberut National Park (2001) have recorded as many as 23 species of mangroves, 14 species are typical types of mangroves and 9 species are non-typical groups of mangroves.

Sago Swamp Forest

There are 2 sago species in Siberut namely Metroxylon sagu and M. rumphii. Sago in Siberut has a remarkable growth rate, reaching 12 meters in 8 years and growing to 18 meters, higher than most other regions.

Coastal Forest

Found along the west coast of Siberut Island. Species commonly found are Casuarina equsetifolia, Baringtonia sp, Hibiscus tiliaceus and Pandanus sp.

Based on planimetric measurements and maps of satellite image interpretation (LIPI, 1995) forest cover in Siberut, namely: 76% primary forest, 6.5% exploited secondary forest, 5% swamp forest, thicket in the plain area 5.97% and the remaining 4 , 53% is agricultural land. The forest in the national park is relatively still natural with many large trees with an average height of 60 meters.

Flora

Rainforest covers almost 65% of Siberut Island. This forest is a palace for the life of flora and fauna by providing food sources and shelter and this forest also functions as a supporter of the traditional life of the Mentawai people especially as tradiosonal medicines.

LIPI (1995) has succeeded in recording around 846 species, 390 genera and 131 families from groups of trees, shrubs, herbs, lianas and ephypit. Also identified are 18 species of ferns and 5 species of moss and fungi. The most important families are Euphorbiaceae (24 genera, 100 species), Orchidaceae (41 genera, 67 species), Rubiaceae (25 genera, 54 species) and Lauraceae (11 genera, 39 species). The Dipterocarpaceae group recorded as many as 20 species, consisting of 6 species of Dipterocarpus, 2 species of Hopea, 8 Species of Shorea and 4 Species of Vatica.

Rattan

From the results of the BTNS inventory (1999) 15 types of rattan were found in Siberut consisting of 3 genera, namely 10 species of Calamus, 2 types of Daemonorops and 2 types of Korthalsia. Of the types of rattan Calamus manan and Calamus scipionum are of economic value, where they are widely found in mixed primary forests.

Orchid

Natural orchids in the TNS area of ​​25 species are included in 13 genera consisting of 22 types of epiphytic orchids and 3 types of soil orchids (LIPI, 2002). The most famous orchids from Siberut are White Moon Orchid (Phalaenopsis amabilis), white flowers, thick fleshy leaves, long flowering 3-4 months with 7-15 buds in one stalk. Other orchids that can be found are Coelogyne incrasata, Eria nutans, Dendrobium paphyllum and others.

Fauna

Siberut National Park has 4 types of primates that are not found in other regions of the world (endemic), namely bokkoi (Macaca pagensis), langawai / joja langur (Presbytis potenziani siberu), bilou (Hylobates klossii), and simakobu (Nasalis concolor siberu ) In addition, there are 4 types of squirrels that are endemic, 17 species of mammals and 130 species of birds (4 endemic species).

Tourism Potential





The tourism potential in Siberut National Park in the form of cultural attractions or attractions can be enjoyed or presented:

1. Cultural Tourism

Mentawai culture is very typical, where the community has a unique tradition. Cultural tourism that can be enjoyed is the daily life of the Mentawai people in their traditional homes. Community activities such as; menyagu, hunt, make arrow poisons, make tattoos, make kabit (traditional pants), cook sago, traditional ceremonies with the typical Mentawai dance (turuk) and ritual treatment by Sikerei (mentawai shaman) has a high cultural value and tourist attraction.

2. Trecking and River Tracking

To reach the location of a tourist attraction or area / location where there is cultural tourism, a speed boat or canoe is used through the main river where certain areas along the river can be seen as sapou where local people are farming and raising livestock, or seeing the lives of local people coming down to the estuary or up the river using a canoe. Travel / trekking is done by walking through primary forests with muddy soil conditions, and during the trip can enjoy dipterocarpaceae trees, forest orchids and wild life. When entering Madobak Village, we will find Ulukubuk Waterfall which has a beautiful and natural panorama. Trekking tours and river treks will be very interesting for those who like challenges and wild life.

3. Marine Tourism

Maritime tourism which is well-known and preferred by foreign tourists on Siberut is Surfing, carried out on small islands on the southern tip of Siberut Island such as Pulau Nyang-nyang and Karang Bajat. In addition, marine tourism that can be enjoyed is snorcling, swimming, fishing and enjoying the beauty of white sand. At present there are tourist resorts in Karang Bajat which were established by private companies and managed by local communities.

4. Bird Observation

Birdwatching can be done in primary and secondary forests or along rivers during trips to tourist sites. On the coast of the Siberut estuary, it can also be observed beach birds looking for fish. Observation of birds as a gathering and nesting place is Saplap Island, located in the village of Saliguma.

5. Observation of Primates

One potential that will be developed in the Siberut National Park area is primate observation tourism. Although currently there are primate research stations managed by the Siberut Conservation Project located in the North Siberut Politcoman, where the four Siberut primates can be seen and observed directly. Observations are usually carried out in the morning when the primates begin to move.

6. Explore Mangroves

The potential of mangroves on Siberut Island has not been widely promoted. There are several potential mangrove tourist sites, namely Katurei Bay, which still has extensive and relatively native mangrove forests with a calm blend of Gulf Katurei. Here you can also directly search for crabs or fish and shrimp between mangrove forests.

Surfing is one of the main marine tourism attractions in Mentawai Regency, West Sumatra, Indonesia. This is due to the geographical location of the Mentawai Islands which are directly facing the Indian Ocean so that the high and large wave characteristics are in great demand by world surfers.

The Mentawai Islands Tourism Potential is also quite complete which includes the mountains, hundreds of endemic flora and fauna, Waterfalls, Lakes, Rivers and the Sea. It is the Mentawai Islands Sea that has become the prime tourist of this archipelago with 71 surfing spot points, 33 snoorking spots, 38 favorite fishing locations.

The islands, which consist of 4 small islands, namely Siberut Island, Sipora Island, North and South Pagai Island, have many of the World Surfers' ideal Surfing Spots which are said to be the third surf paradise after Hawaii and Tahiti because of the waves on the Islands Mentawai can reach 7 meters high so that Australia-based Surfing Magazine named the Mentawai Islands the Top 10 Best Surfing Places in the World.


Of the 71 surfing points in the Mentawai Islands, 49 of them entered international scale executive categories and 7 spots were among the best of the 10 spot points in the world. These spot points are located on Nyang-Nyang Island. Karang Bajad, Karoniki, Pananggelat and Mainuk on Siberut Island, Kateil Basua on Sipora Island and North Pagai on Sikakap Island are among the Top 10 in the World. So that it is not an exaggeration if each year the Mentawan Islands is made into a super series event or World Surf Championship which is usually held every August.

As with the island of Sipora, this island is synonymous with the term Surfing Island because it has several world-class surfing spot points. On this island you can get 7 waves or 7 of the Best Spot Surfing Points called Hollow Trees, Lance's Left, Telecopes, Mancaronies, Iceland and Scarcrows whose waves are always constitutional.

Hollow Trees, commonly called HT or Lance's Right, has cylindrical waves known as Right Tube, which for 10 years often appeared in world surfing magazines or videos.

At first the waves came not too big, but there will be 3 take offs that will challenge the surfers to maneuver surfing when the bigger second waves come. At the top of the wave will break (peak) and will be connected to the barrel continuously which will make the surfers will be amazed. This type of wave is not recommended for beginner surfers, because this wave is specifically for professional surfers with surfing skills above average.

Although including the Province of West Sumatra, the Mentawai Islands Regency is far from the capital city of Padang. The capital city of Tuapejat is about 82 miles from Padang. Therefore, the problem of sea transportation is an important part of note. Here are tips on choosing transportation to get there.

1. Ships. From Padang to Mentawai by ship, it will take 10-12 hours. This longest time can be an option for backpackers, because the rates are considered the lowest.

Before leaving, you must really check the departure schedule because there are often changes. Each ship has a departure on a different day. Departure from Bungus Bay Crossing Port can be reached in one hour from the center of Padang City.

There are Ambu Ambu and KMP Gambolo KMPs that serve this route. There are also several classes, from economics to executives. The departure schedule is generally nighttime, although there are also those in the afternoon.

2. Fast ship. If you want faster, you can take a fast boat with a travel time of 3-4 hours. Departing from Muaro Port in the Old City area of ​​Padang. Only the waves were felt more by ships with a capacity of 200 people.

This Mentawai Fast fast boat departs six days a week, every 7:00 a.m., but must keep checking the schedule because the purpose of each day can be different. As on Monday the ship will dock at Tuapejat, Sipora Island, but on Tuesday, the ship from Muaro will go to Siberut Island. Rates start at Rp. 295 thousand.

3. Transportation from the resort. In Mentawai there have been a number of resorts that are mostly visited by tourists who love surfing. Well, usually the resort also provides transportation from Padang to its hotel guests. If you don't want to be bothered, you can take this choice. Book a resort plus transportation.

4. Inter-island transportation. Because Mentawai Regency is an archipelago district, the main transportation in this district is motorized boats. From Tuapejat, there is an inter-island boat schedule. This must also be checked the departure schedule because there could be a change.

This district was formed based on RI Law No. 49 of 1999 and named after its original geographical name. The regency consists of 4 main inhabited island groups namely Siberut Island, Sipora Island, North Pagai Island and South Pagai Island inhabited by the majority of the Mentawai tribe. In addition there are still a number of other small inhabited islands but most of the other islands are only planted with coconut trees.

Geographical
The Mentawai Islands Regency is an archipelagic district located extensively in the westernmost part of the island of Sumatra and surrounded by the Indian Ocean.

The Mentawai Islands are part of a series of non-volcanic islands and the islands are the peaks of an undersea mountain ridge.

Population

The Mentawai tribe as the main population in this district, in general this society does not have a clear picture of their origin, although some of them know some mythology which sometimes is rather blurred and hard to believe. Local people call their country the name Bumi Sikerei.

Most of the inhabitants of the islands in the Mentawai Islands regency are from Siberut Island. The Mentawai tribe community physically has a rather old-fashioned culture, namely the neolithic age wherein this society is not familiar with metalworking technology, as well as farming and weaving.

The population in this district is half of them adherents of animism, then some are Christians and Muslims. After independence the people in this district have mingled with other ethnic groups in Indonesia, especially after this district became one of the transmigration areas.

Government
The central government of the Mentawai Islands district is located in Tuapejat, north of the island of Sipora.

List of Regents
1. Edison Saleleubaja (2001-2006)
2. Edison Saleleubaja (2006-2011)
3. Judas Sabaggalet (2011-2016)
4. Yudas Sabaggalet (2017-2022)

Sub-district
In 2010 geographically and administratively, the Mentawai Islands Regency consisted of 10 sub-districts, 43 villages and 202 hamlets. The ten sub-districts are as follows:

South Pagai sub-district with an area of ​​901.08 km² (14.99%) and the sub-district capital is Bulasat
Sikakap Subdistrict with an area of ​​278.45 km² (4.63%) and the sub-district capital is Sikakap
North Pagai sub-district with an area of ​​342.02 km² (5.69%) and the sub-district capital is Saumanganyak
Sipora Selatan District with an area of ​​268.47 km² (4.47%) and the sub-district capital is Sioban
Sipora Utara District with an area of ​​383.08 km² (6.37%) and the sub-district capital is Sido Makmur
South Siberut sub-district with an area of ​​508.33 km² (8.46%) and the sub-district capital is Maileppet
Siberut Barat Subdistrict with an area of ​​649.08 km² (10.80%) and the sub-district capital is Pasakiat Taileleu
Central Siberut District with an area of ​​739.87 km² (12.31%) and the capital of the sub-district is Saibi Samukop
North Siberut District with an area of ​​816.11 km² (13.58%) and the sub-district capital is the Sikabaluan estuary
West Siberut District with an area of ​​1,124.86 km² (18.71%) and the sub-district capital is Simalegi (Betaet)


Regional potential

This area has a lot of natural potential, besides in the fields of plantations, agriculture and fisheries. This area has the potential to become a tourist area. Seafood is one of the potentials that continues to be developed in this district, especially groupers that sell well for export.

To support development in this area the central and regional governments plan to build a Tuapejat power plant with a capacity of 6 MW.

Mentawai is an archipelago found off the west coast of Sumatra (Indonesia) which consists of around 70 islands and islands. The four main islands are North and South Pagai, Sipora, and Siberut; with Siberut - covering 4,480 square kilometers and with a population of around 29,918 of which 90% are native of Mentawai origin, others 10% are considered to consist of Minangkabau, Javanese, and Batak being four of the largest.

The ancestors of indigenous Mentawai people are believed to have migrated first to the area somewhere between 2000 - 500 BC, while the first invaders were stated, in the initial documentation by John Crisp who landed on the islands in 1792, arrived in the mid-1700 on the way an Englishman who made a failed attempt and to establish a pepper farming settlement on an island south of South Pagai. For years before this trade existed between indigenous peoples and mainland Sumatran China and Malay.

After establishing their presence 40 years earlier, while signing the control of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, the Dutch returned in 1864 to claim the Mentawai islands under the sovereignty of the East Indies, a position maintained until the Second World War. During this period the relationship between the Dutch and indigenous peoples was reported to be satisfactory, as documented through accounts of talks with the Mentawai elders labeled this time as "good old days" where they "received fair prices in trade and were free to practice style live their culture, Arat Sabulungan "Arat Sabulungan is the cultural existence in which the indigenous Mentawai people live which is held together by a belief system that pays homage to the spirits of their ancestors, sky, land, sea, river, and everything in it. Led by a shaman (Kerei or Sikerei), ritual ceremonies are quite common.

In addition to the military campaign to eradicate the eradication of tribal war - change should be welcomed by Islanders - records show that the Dutch did not try to interfere with the daily lives of the Mentawai people. The journal was written during this talk of the indigenous 'flower-decorated' period and the time spent 'island of happiness' on 'island of happiness'.

In 1901, August Lett, the first missionary to Mentawai, arrived on the south coast of North Pagai - building a view that was contrary to that of the early 20th century Dutch tourists and others. Lett, and later missionaries were sent to the islands, rejected and despised by indigenous peoples because of their superstitions, rituals, and cultural behavior; describe people as "lazy, retarded and ignorant" and have "the suffering of poor people trapped in evil terror". In 1915, after several difficulties - including August Lett's death (Persoon, 1987) - missionaries had obtained their first convert, extended their efforts to Sipora and Siberut and, in 1932, had gone on to set up a mission station in Maeleppet (Siberut).

As early as 1954, under the Indonesian goal of national unity and cultural adaptation, the National Government began to introduce a development and civilization program designed to integrate ethnic groups into the main social flows and cultures of the country.

Of the many changes experienced by the people of Siberut during this period and the following decades - especially the formation of coercive colonies at Muara Siberut and the arrival and violence of Japanese authorities during the period of the Second World War - the most significant, in terms of assimilation of the Mentawai people, arrived in 1950 (after the Indonesian Declaration of Independence in 1945) when the Mentawai became part of the Indonesian state.


In early 1954, under the Indonesian goal of national unity and cultural adaptation, the National Government began to introduce a civilization program designed to 'integrate ethnic groups into the mainstream social and cultural development of the country'. This, for the original Mentawai, means eradicating the practice of Arat Sabulungan; forced surrender, burning and destruction of property used to facilitate cultural or ritual behavior; and they Sikerei (traditional healers) took off their robes, were beaten, and forced into forced labor and in prison.

After a period of five years this settlement has been removed from the status of the project and in the left hand of civil servants and local government officials to maintain progress and control. This is also the time when logging companies began to appear throughout the Mentawai Islands.

In the late 1980, after logging had destroyed the Sipora, North and South Pagai forests, and - before being challenged by the choice of international organizations. In 1980, WWF (world wildlife fund) published a report entitled 'Saving Siberut' which, along with support from other organizations - notably UNESCO and Survival International - and other additional international interests, helped persuade the Indonesian government to cancel logging concessions and declared forest Siberut biosphere reserve. - also in the process of achieving the same thing in Siberut, the Government's pressure on resettlement was rather relaxed (mainly because of the attractive flow of indigenous peoples tourism). With this, people in the Mentawai found that they were once again free to practice their native cultural activities - in areas far from the villages.

However, it originated from the occurrence of coercion, and to date, the number of indigenous people who are still actively practicing cultural habits, rituals and ceremonies of Arat Sabulungan has been limited to a very small population of indigenous groups, mainly located around Sarereiket and Sakuddei areas in the south of Siberut Island.