Oslo Tropical Forest Forum 2024
Indonesia increases Indigenous protection of forests tenfold
Indonesia unveiled plans to safeguard 15 million hectares of rainforest as part of a collaboration agreement with the Bezos Earth Fund. As much as 23 % of this area is dedicated to Indigenous forest protection, a tenfold increase of the area currently under Indigenous protection.
INDIGENOUS: A member of an Indigenous community in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Photo: Rainforest Foundation Norway
By Rainforest Foundation Norway.
The announcement was made by Indonesia’s Minister of Environment and Forestry, Dr. Siti Nurbaya Bakar, at the Oslo Tropical Forest Forum on the 25th of June, 2024.
Under the social forestry scheme "Indigenous Forests, Hutan Adat, approximately 3.5 million hectares, equivalent to 23% of the total area, will be assigned to Indigenous communities. This scheme recognizes and respects the traditional knowledge and practices of Indigenous communities, who have long served as guardians of the forest.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Senior Fellow at the Bezos Earth Fund, Lord Zac Goldsmith, Indonesia’s Minister of Environment and Forestry, Dr. Siti Nurbaya Bakar, and Norway's Minister of Climate and Environment, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, at the announcement of the agreement during the Oslo Tropical Forest Forum. Photo: Thomas Brun/NTB
Agung Wibowo, Executive Director of the Indonesian organization Perkumpulan HuMa. Photo: Perkumpulan HuMa
Guardians of the rainforest
"We were happy to hear this decision by the Indonesian government and ready to work alongside the government as the civil society partner," says Agung Wibowo, Executive Director of the Indonesian organization Perkumpulan HuMa.
"The Indigenous peoples are guardians of the forest and the first actors in protecting rainforests and their valuable biodiversity. With their full participation and by recognizing their rights, Indonesia can succeed in protecting and restoring its immensely biodiverse and valuable forests from destruction," he says.
Increases Indigenous forest protection tenfold
This increase in protection will expand the areas currently under Indigenous forest protection ten times over and is expected to be achieved within the next three months.
Toerris Jaeger, Director of Rainforest Foundation Norway, commends the decision to the press, stating, "This highlights a strong commitment to protecting the remaining Indonesian rainforests and is a recognition of the crucial work carried out by Indigenous communities. Protecting these forests is essential for mitigating climate change, preserving biodiversity, and maintaining the ecological balance. And the commitment comes at a vital time, where all countries are expected to increase efforts to preserve biodiversity”.
Rainforest Foundation Norway has been collaborating with Indigenous partners in Indonesia for decades and encourages donors, civil society, and companies to seize this momentum and find ways to support these ambitious commitments in the coming months.
Sinta Lestari
Team Leader, Indonesia and PNG Program
sinta@rainforest.no