Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry has intensified efforts to accelerate the recognition and protection of Customary Forests through a collaborative governance framework involving Indigenous Peoples and forest concession holders. The initiative was marked by the signing of a Customary Forest Governance Agreement between the Punan Batu Benau Sajau Indigenous Community in Bulungan Regency, North Kalimantan, and three forest concession companies—PT ITCI Kayan Hutani, PT Inhutani I Unit Sambarata, and PT Rizki Kacida Reana.
The agreement aims to resolve overlapping claims between proposed Customary Forest areas and existing Forest Utilization Business License (PBPH) concessions while ensuring legal protection for Indigenous Peoples’ customary territories and providing business certainty for concession holders.
The collaborative model is built on the principles of mutual recognition and co-management, emphasizing shared respect, joint decision-making, and collaborative forest management between Indigenous communities and concessionaires. Developed by the Directorate General of Social Forestry, the approach promotes inclusive and equitable solutions to customary forest governance. A similar model has previously been implemented in Jambi Province involving the Datuk Nan Tigo and Bathin Jo Penghulu Bukit Bulan Indigenous communities.
Director General of Social Forestry, Catur Endah Prasetiani, stated that the governance agreement serves as a collaborative mechanism to balance the interests of Indigenous Peoples and concession holders while ensuring sustainable forest management.
“The Customary Forest governance agreement provides a collaborative approach that bridges the interests of Indigenous communities and concession holders. Through mutual recognition and co-management, we aim to deliver legal certainty, business certainty, and equitable, sustainable forest management. Most importantly, no stakeholder should be left behind in accelerating the recognition of Customary Forests,” she said.
The initiative forms part of Indonesia’s broader commitment to recognizing and protecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples while promoting inclusive and sustainable forestry development. As of July 2026, the government has officially designated 368,877 hectares of Customary Forests for 174 Indigenous communities, benefiting approximately 92,955 households. During the current administration (October 2024–July 2026), 36,372.30 hectares have been recognized across 18 Indigenous communities, providing secure forest management rights to 9,676 households.
To accelerate progress, the Ministry has issued Ministerial Decree No. 440 of 2026, establishing the Roadmap for the Acceleration of Customary Forest Recognition and Designation for 2025–2029. The roadmap targets the designation of 1.4 million hectares of Customary Forests by 2029 and serves as a national framework for strengthening collaboration among central and regional governments, Indigenous communities, civil society organizations, academia, and other stakeholders.
The commitment was also reaffirmed by Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni during Indonesia’s National Statement at the COP30 Climate Conference in Belém, Brazil, where he highlighted the recognition of Customary Forests as a key strategy for empowering Indigenous Peoples as forest stewards while contributing to climate change mitigation.
“President Prabowo has demonstrated a strong commitment to Indigenous communities by allocating management rights over 1.4 million hectares of forest to Indigenous Peoples over the next four years. This initiative has received international recognition because Indonesia entrusts local and Indigenous communities to safeguard forests while improving their livelihoods through the Customary Forest scheme,” the minister said.
To support implementation, the Ministry has also established the Task Force for the Acceleration of Customary Forest Recognition under Ministerial Decree No. 121 of 2026. The task force is expected to expedite the legal recognition process, resolve land tenure conflicts, strengthen partnerships with Indigenous communities as strategic forest stewards, and contribute to Indonesia’s national forestry targets and global climate commitments. (*)
