Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — The Ministry of Forestry of Indonesia is intensifying efforts to accelerate the recognition of 1.4 million hectares of customary forests following a high-level meeting between Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni and Heather Gerken in Jakarta on 28 April 2026.
The meeting, also attended by Deputy Forestry Minister Rohmat Marzuki, marked a significant step in strengthening collaboration after Indonesia’s commitment announced at COP30 to expand the legal recognition of customary forests.
Minister Raja Juli Antoni emphasized that improving forest governance remains a top priority, particularly through accelerating the formal recognition of customary forests. To achieve this target, the Ministry has established an inclusive task force involving government institutions, academics, and civil society organizations.
He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to recognizing 95 Indigenous communities, highlighting their critical role in forest conservation.
“Indigenous communities are our key partners on the ground. We want to ensure this collaboration delivers tangible impact at the local level,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Heather Gerken praised Indonesia’s leadership in advancing Indigenous forest rights, describing it as a global model for sustainable forest governance.
“Indonesia has demonstrated remarkable leadership on Indigenous issues post-COP30. We are ready to provide technical and legal support to help realize this ambitious vision,” she said.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen legal certainty for Indigenous peoples while improving their livelihoods. At the same time, it reinforces Indonesia’s position as a global leader in forest conservation through community-based approaches. (*)
