Raw material of Besemah traditional house construction in Indonesia

Abstract The traditional house is one of the nature reserves that have the characteristics of various regions and must be protected and preserved. This research aimed to explain the species of wood used in the manufacture of traditional Besemah houses in the Pelang Kenidai Village, Central Dempo District, Pagaralam City, South Sumatra Province, Indonesia. The implemented methodology of this study was a qualitative approach alongside a case study method. The wood species used in the preservation of traditional Besemah houses (ghumah baghi) consisted of three species: mersawa (Anisoptera sp.), surian (Toona sureni Merr.) and rasamala (Altingia excelsa Noronha). The government is expected to support the preservation of traditional houses through policies on preserving traditional houses, rehabilitating forests and land, cultivating the species of wood used as raw materials for making traditional houses, providing alternative species of other wood as a substitute for these woods, developing culture-based tourism and supporting the community in preserving the culture they have.