Press Release: Status of Indigenous Territory Recognition in Indonesia on the International Day of the World's Indigenous People 2024

In commemoration of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples on August 9, 2024, the Indigenous Territory Registration Agency (BRWA) together with the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) once again highlight the condition of indigenous territory recognition in Indonesia. This year's commemoration theme, "Indigenous Peoples: Innovation and Local Wisdom," emphasizes the importance of preserving and utilizing local wisdom in facing increasingly complex global challenges.

As of August 2024, BRWA has registered 1,499 indigenous territories with a total area of 30.1 million hectares spread across 32 provinces and 166 districts/cities throughout Indonesia. Of the total registered indigenous territories, 7,598,135 hectares are recorded, 17,681,859 hectares are in registration status, 3,017,771 hectares are in the verification process, and 1,810,750 hectares have been certified by BRWA.

Download the infographic on the status of indigenous territory recognition as of August 2024

Meanwhile, official recognition status from local governments for indigenous territories is still very minimal. To date, only 4,850,689 hectares from 284 maps have been recognized as indigenous territories through regional legal products.

In terms of Customary Forest designation, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) also notes that of the potential 23.2 million hectares of customary forests, only 265,250 hectares have been designated as customary forests to date. Meanwhile, policies in the land sector still show serious problems. The government through the Ministry of ATR/BPN has issued Ministerial Regulation ATR/BPN No. 14 of 2024 on the Administration of Land Affairs and Registration of Customary Land of Indigenous Peoples. Various community areas and AMAN administrators report that this regulation has begun to be implemented and has caused unrest. This situation indicates that there is a need to reopen this regulation and explore possibilities for change.

This situation shows that efforts to recognize and protect the rights of indigenous peoples are still not optimal. The absence of the Indigenous Peoples Law (UUMA) causes the process of recognizing indigenous territories to remain trapped in sectoral regulations that do not provide clarity and guarantee the rights of indigenous peoples.

AMAN Secretary General, Rukka Sombolinggi, reaffirms the importance of passing the UUMA to provide a strong legal framework in protecting and recognizing the rights of indigenous peoples. "We call on the government and parliament to immediately pass the Indigenous Peoples Law as a form of constitutional responsibility in protecting the rights of indigenous peoples," stressed Rukka.

BRWA Head, Kasmita Widodo, also emphasized that "The central and local governments must immediately make breakthroughs to facilitate the process of recognizing indigenous territories and overcome various bureaucratic obstacles that have hindered this process."

This year's commemoration of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples should be a momentum for the government to accelerate the process of recognizing indigenous territories and provide real protection for indigenous peoples in Indonesia. Only with adequate recognition can the innovation and local wisdom possessed by indigenous peoples fully contribute to national development and environmental preservation.

Media Contact:

BRWA:
Ariya Dwi Cahya
Data and Information Division
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0813-1032-6208

AMAN:
Titi Pangestu
Infocom Coordinator PB AMAN
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +62 813-1789-7062