The warmth of Ramadan accompanied our departure as we set off for Alor Island (Tuesday, 23/6). We stayed overnight in Kupang before flying to Alor the next day. The flight from Kupang to Alor took approximately an hour using Transnusa aircraft. Only that airline operates regularly every day. Other airlines seem hesitant, flying only twice a day.

Upon arrival at Mali Airport, Alor, we were greeted by scorching midday sun. The sun was right above our heads. Nevertheless, the land of Alor Island still looked green from the sky. A sign that the forest still exists, and the rain hasn’t poured excessively for a long time. Our driver, Mr. Yunus, mentioned that it hadn’t rained for the past few weeks.

The city of Kalabahi, as the capital of Alor Regency, is quite far from Mali Airport. These two locations are situated in the area resembling the head of a bird of Alor Island. The airport is located at the back of the head, while the capital is at the tip of the mouth. Demographically, this city is very pluralistic. Most of the city’s residents are Muslims, Christians, and Protestants. There are many Chinese communities living in the city dominating major trading centers. Perhaps the ease of access to water for worship purposes explains the large Muslim population in the city. The mosque’s speakers echoed when the call to prayer arrived. Many people sell snacks or iftar menus by the roadside in the city every evening. However, tolerance is not a new thing here. And there are many factors that can explain that.

Geographically, Kalabahi is situated in lowlands. Lawahing and Adang Buom villages, the locations for the formation of the community forest management group in the MFP3 project, are located on the back of Mount Omtel in the Alor-Pantar Forest Management Unit. The name Alor-Pantar is a combination of two islands within the Alor Regency. According to Mr. Johanis Kewatung (Jon), the Head of Alor-Pantar FMU, the status of forest areas in Alor has been confirmed. It is based on a Minister of Forestry Decree issued in 1999.

Historically, around the 1960s, the communities living around these mountains made a pledge to hand over their customary land to the local Forestry Department. The communities were still allowed to cultivate with intercropping models. In these villages, many people have livelihood gardens such as candlenut, walnut, cloves, and coffee. The community gardens are scattered throughout the forest area.

Legally, these two villages (Lawahing and Adang Buom) are located within forest areas. The government asserts its authority not only through forest area designations but also through forestry tree planting programs. The communities complain about the presence of plants like mahogany and sandalwood. Many of their livelihood plants have died and collapsed due to the massive presence of mahogany and sandalwood trees in their gardens. We also documented several fallen candlenut trees in the forest.

On this occasion, we attended the election of forest management group officials in Lawahing. Since the Yayasan Kasih Mandiri Alor Flores and Lembata (Sandi Florata) have been providing assistance in the MFP3 project for two to three months, only the group in Adang Buom Village has been formed. Therefore, the agenda in Adang Buom Village was just the confirmation of officials by the village head, while in Lawahing Village, it was from the selection to the confirmation of officials.

 

Stories from Lawahing

In Lawahing Village, the elections were conducted democratically, attended by hundreds of villagers. A total of 114 votes participated in the election of