Situated in Bangli regency, Penglipuran village is well-known
for its tidy row of traditional Balinese entrance gates
and its unique architectural traditions. The village has
also succeeded in preserving its 75-hectare bamboo forest
located in the northern part of the village.
According to Wayan Perten, members of the Desa Adat village
institution have played a consistent role from generation
to generation in this preservation since they have a strong
commitment to the system of "ayahan desa" - a
philosophy committed to respecting the land on which the
village stands.
A portion of the "desa adat" are known as "krama
pengarep", or privileged members. Each of them is given
an eight-acre house yard, 40-acres of agricultural land,
70-acres of bamboo forest, 60-acres of riverside irrigation,
and 25-acres of rice field.
The lands may not be transferred to anyone without the
knowledge of Penglipuran villagers and the the "Desa
Adat" authority. The bamboo forest's future is therefore
assured. Indeed, Penglipuran village was given the Kapaltaru
award by the Indonesian Government in 1996 for its success
in preserving the bamboo forest.
The forest consists of several different types of bamboo:
"Tiying Jajang", used as house construction material,
"Tiying Tali" used to produce rope, plaiting works,
and house rooves, and "Tiying Ampel, with short segments
and "Tiying Selem", a black bamboo.
The community members who are given pieces of bamboo forest
ground usually fell bamboo trees once a year by selective
cutting, leaving the younger ones intact. The average price
of bamboo products in the market is five thousand rupiah
per piece. Annually Penglipuran bamboo forest produces 750
thousand pieces of cut bamboo.
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