Sustainable Hunters and Gatherers in Bel urn-Temenggor Tropical Rainforest
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Date
2015-01-29
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Abstract
Belum-Temenggor trop1cal rainforest is located 1n the distr1ct of Upper Perak, state of Perak. Peninsular
Malaysia CovemlQ an area of 300.000 hectars which represent 5 % of forest and 50% of known
spec1es in the world and is home for 80% of primates 1n Peninsular Malaysia Th1s complex 1s a
comb1natron of four forest reserves namelv Roval Belum Forest Reserve. Temenaaor Forest Reserve.
Gerik Forest Reserve and Bandino Forest Reserve in which onlv Royal Belum State Park has been fully
protected since 2007 rFioure 1l The Belum-Temenaoor rainforest also consists of man made lake
known as Tasek Temenoaor which is the result from hydroelectric dam project which covers an area of
22,672 acres and is home to at least 42 species of freshwater f1sh This tropical rainforest 1s rich in its
divers1tv of ftora and fauna wh1ch became the source of subsistence. med1c1nes domestic and
econcmic to semi-nomadic Jaha1 hunters and oatherers who l1ve in this area. These neorito
subarou~nqs adapt 1n the rainforest enwanment with ma1oritv of them built their huts at the lake
shores and rivers. The lake and rivers act as a medium of communicaticn and offers source of darly
necessities w1th its abundance of fresh water fish. Apart from that. the sustainable adaptation was also
contrrbuted by the element of belief in spirits that inhabited the forest these peoples ask protection from
the spirits lhrough r1tuals. The Jahai believed that this area 1s their country and they were the custody of
the rainforest. Therefore it is the1r responsibility to protect and sustain the surroundino area. Based on
ethnooraph1c survey conducted rn Jaha1 settlements in Belum-Temenqqor rainforest, th1s paper aims to
discuss shortly on hovi these communrties survived and sustarned therr living pattern Within the
environment.
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Keywords
Belum-Temenggor, rainforest. Jahal, hunters and gatherers, sustainable