Enviro News Asia, Ciamis – The Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, Raja Juli Antoni, conducted a working visit to the Leuweung Gede Customary Forest in Kuta Village, Tambaksari Subdistrict, Ciamis Regency, West Java. The two-day visit on Saturday and Sunday (September 13–14, 2025) reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the recognition and protection of Indigenous Peoples (Masyarakat Hukum Adat/MHA) and strengthening their role in forest conservation. The visit also marked a historic milestone, as Raja Juli Antoni became the first Forestry Minister to directly visit Kuta Village.
The Leuweung Gede Customary Forest, covering approximately 31 hectares, was designated through a Ministerial Decree issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in 2018. It is the only customary forest in West Java and one of just ten customary forests formally designated on the island of Java. Thus, Kuta Village serves as a tangible example of how local wisdom can sustainably safeguard forests and ecosystems.
In a dialogue with the community, Minister Raja Juli expressed his appreciation to the Indigenous People who have consistently protected the sacred forest under strict customary rules. “Kuta Village is a model of how Indigenous communities preserve nature with wisdom. This aligns with the government’s efforts to advance social forestry and customary forest recognition across Indonesia,” said Raja Juli Antoni in the Ministry of Forestry’s official statement.
Raja Juli further emphasized that the recognition of customary forests is not only about ecology, but also about acknowledging the dignity and identity of Indigenous Peoples who have preserved nature for generations. “The state is present to ensure that the local wisdom passed down by our ancestors can move hand in hand with modern forestry development programs,” he added.
He also highlighted that Kuta Village proves that customary law can be a strong safeguard in conserving forests and maintaining environmental balance. “Customary forests should serve as shared learning spaces where Indigenous communities teach us to care for forests with reverence and sanctity,” he stated. According to Raja Juli, the government’s task is to expand recognition, provide access, and ensure that the economic benefits of customary forests improve community welfare.
From 2016 to July 2025, a total of 160 customary forests have been designated, covering 333,687 hectares, benefitting 83,000 Indigenous households across 41 regencies in 19 provinces.
In addition to visiting the sacred forest, the Forestry Minister also observed the harvest of aren (sugar palm)—the main commodity of Kuta Village—and participated in tree planting. The village’s Social Forestry Business Group (KUPS) has developed various products such as palm sugar, coffee, stingless bee honey, bamboo crafts, and local food products.
The people of Kuta Village enthusiastically welcomed the development of aren commodities in the customary forest area. For them, aren is not only a source of food and livelihood, but also an integral part of their cultural identity passed down through generations. Government support for aren management is seen as a major opportunity to improve welfare, strengthen the local economy, and at the same time ensure the sustainability of the customary forest.
Through this visit, the government hopes that the recognition of customary forests will not only protect ecological sustainability, but also enhance the welfare of Indigenous communities through the utilization of non-timber forest products, ecotourism, and the preservation of cultural wisdom. (*)
