Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — The Government of Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to accelerate the formal recognition of Indigenous Peoples, customary territories, and Indigenous Forests as part of a broader effort to restructure stakeholder relations, strengthen community roles, and uphold people’s sovereignty and national dignity for the present and the future.
The commitment was conveyed by the Vice Minister of Forestry during the closing session of the National Post-COP30 Workshop held in Jakarta on Wednesday, December 18. The workshop focused on the theme “Joint Action to Accelerate the Designation of 1.4 Million Hectares of Resilient and Sustainable Indigenous Forests.”
The Vice Minister stated that Indonesia’s pledge to recognize 1.4 million hectares of Indigenous Forests, as announced in various national and international forums, represents a shared mandate that requires collective action. He emphasized that the scale of the target demands strong collaboration beyond the Ministry of Forestry.
He explained that achieving such an ambitious target is impossible through a single institution. The government therefore calls for coordinated efforts involving ministries and state agencies, provincial and district governments, the private sector, and civil society organizations actively advocating for Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous Forests.
To translate this commitment into concrete action, the Ministry of Forestry has established a Task Force for the Acceleration of Indigenous Forest Designation. The task force works to fast-track collaboration, verify Indigenous Peoples’ recognition, and process Indigenous Forest proposals across Indonesia.
The Vice Minister expressed hope that the national workshop would serve as a solid foundation for building multi-stakeholder synergy. He highlighted the importance of developing a clear roadmap for accelerating Indigenous Forest designation, ensuring post-recognition sustainability strategies, and strengthening collaborative commitments in technical support, facilitation, and financing.
He also underscored the need to advance current achievements, noting that Indonesia has formally recognized approximately 366,955 hectares of Indigenous Forests across 43 districts and 20 provinces. He encouraged all stakeholders to intensify joint efforts so that the figure continues to increase through effective handling of pending proposals.
The Vice Minister further emphasized the strategic role of Indigenous Peoples in sustainable forest management and climate action. He stated that Indigenous communities contribute not only through traditional forest governance systems but also by safeguarding ecosystems that function as carbon sinks, support climate adaptation, and reduce disaster risks.
Despite these advances, he reminded participants that Indigenous Forest designation does not mark the end of the struggle. Instead, it should serve as a foundation for improving the social and economic welfare of Indigenous Peoples in line with their local wisdom, which he described as a fundamental national aspiration.
In closing, the Vice Minister reiterated that accelerating the recognition of Indigenous Peoples, customary territories, and Indigenous Forests represents a critical momentum for Indonesia. He called on all stakeholders to continue working hand in hand to protect forests as an invaluable heritage for future generations. (*)
