Tanah Datar, July 30, 2024 - Local wisdom in Nagari Guguak Malalo, Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra, is at the heart of the local indigenous community's culture. These customary values are very important in the management of natural resources, especially forests and water, which are the main sources of irrigation for their rice fields and plantations.

After the Galado disaster/landslide and the loss of water sources due to the construction of the water intake tunnel of the Singkarak hydropower plant, the indigenous community in Nagari Gugak Malalo was encouraged to actively to restore the sustainability of water resources by adhering to the teachings and customary rules handed down by their ancestors.

A representative of the Nagari Guguak Malalo, Rizal Amri, said that the rules handed down by the ancestors must continue to be implemented as a form of respect for tradition. Breaking customary rules, he said, can have serious consequences.

"For example, if you cut down trees in the Malalo forest to build a house, the house itself can be damaged. Also, springs must not be damaged, because each spring has its own guardian. Breaking the customary rules can have serious consequences," he said as qouted in the academic paper by students of SMA Negeri 1 Sumbar titled 'Community Participation in Water Resources Management. Local wisdom of the Guguak Malalo indigenous community in forest conservation as an attempt to preserve water resources'.

According to Datuak Rajo Malano (2023), customary rules play an important role in the conservation and protection of forests and natural resources for the future. Customary law santions are applied to prevent demage and ensure the sustainability of the environment.

The Malalo customary octrine 'Where the earth is trodden, the sky is upheld" is the main guideline for society's behavior. The principle of "tangan mamancang, bahu mamikua" (hands to chop, shoulders to carry), which states that the one who does wrong must be punished, emprehasizes that every action must be accompanied by a wilingness to take risks. Francis (2005) noted that local wisdom such as this reflects a tradition that is adapted to the rules of the community.

In addition, there is also a traditional teaching "batabang ciek tanam sapuluah" (cut down one, plant ten). which states that if you cut down one free, you must plant ten trees to reforest. "The local wisdom in Nagari Guguak Malalo is equipped with clear and binding customary laws. Written and social sanctions ensure that people think long and hard before they act.' he said.

For violation of customary rules, the elders such as the "niniak mamak" and the chairman of the Nagari Customary (KAN) hold a customary court in the customary hall. The court process is conducted with a familial approach and based on the Nagari Guguak Malalo rules, with sanctions adjusted to the degree of fault, both economically and in terms of the age of the offender.

With local wisdom and strict customary rules, the Nagari Guguak Malalo community is committed to protecting its forests and natural resources for the survival of future generations.