Conservation as the Root of Indonesian Culture, The Importance of Involving Indigenous Peoples for the Successful Implementation of IBSAP

Indonesia is known not only as a country with rich biodiversity (megabiodiversity), but also as a country with cultural diversity (mega-cultural). These two riches are closely interconnected, with traditional knowledge and local wisdom passed down through generations as the link. Indigenous peoples and local communities in Indonesia have long practiced tradition-based conservation that has proven effective in protecting ecosystems and biodiversity. These practices demonstrate sustainable use that can support the survival of communities without sacrificing ecological balance, known as customary sustainable use.

Sustainable environmental management practices have become part of the cultural identity of the archipelago. Traditions such as sasi in Maluku, awig-awig in Bali, panglima laot in Aceh, tana ulen in Kalimantan, and tembawang in West Kalimantan reflect the ecological intelligence of local communities in maintaining the balance between utilization and preservation of natural resources. These systems not only support the lives of indigenous peoples and local communities but also make significant contributions to achieving national and global conservation targets.

The launch of the Indonesian Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (IBSAP) document on August 8, 2024, marks an important milestone in efforts to preserve biodiversity in Indonesia. IBSAP is a manifestation of Indonesia's commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), an ambitious global framework to address the biodiversity crisis. However, to ensure its impact, the implementation of IBSAP must prioritize a rights-based, inclusive, and participatory approach, recognizing the significant role of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in biodiversity conservation.

Following the official launch of IBSAP, WGII immediately conducted a rapid analysis of the targets listed within it. This analysis found that several targets are directly related to the regulation and recognition of indigenous peoples' rights. At least, WGII identified five main targets relevant in this regard, namely target 1, target 3, target 8, target 12, and target 17.

Although IBSAP has included the integration of indigenous peoples and local communities in biodiversity protection efforts, its success heavily depends on proper implementation and strict supervision. To ensure that the contribution of indigenous peoples is not merely recognized on paper but also acknowledged in reality, a commitment is needed to ensure their role as guardians of the nation's biodiversity and culture. Actively involving indigenous peoples in every step of IBSAP implementation is key to achieving sustainable conservation goals. Thus, Indonesia will not only be known as a mega-biodiversity country but also as a mega-cultural biodiversity country that enriches its cultural and ecological heritage simultaneously.

#AN

This writing references:

Presentation by Cindy Julianty at the IBSAP launch (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG9jg5EEwd0&t=12446s)