Indonesia Commits to Recognize 1.4 Million Hectares of Customary Forests at COP30
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the tenurial rights of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs), emphasizing their central role in climate action and sustainable forest management.
The commitment was highlighted during the Intergovernmental Land Tenure Commitment session at the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, on Monday. The Ministry of Forestry’s Director of Tenurial and Customary Forest Conflict Resolution, Julmansyah, conveyed the government’s continued efforts to advance the recognition and protection of IPLC rights.
“Indigenous peoples and local communities play a key role in shaping traditional knowledge, sustainable practices, and managing vital ecosystems, including contributing to climate action,” Julmansyah said in a statement released on Tuesday.
According to the ministry, Indonesia’s social forestry designation has reached more than 8.3 million hectares as of October 2025, benefiting over 1.4 million households through legal community-based forest management schemes. Additionally, the government has issued 164 customary forest decrees, covering 345,257 hectares managed by 87,963 households.
To further strengthen these initiatives, Indonesia is finalizing several national strategic plans, including a roadmap to accelerate the recognition of customary forests, expected to be launched in December 2025.
At COP30, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni formally announced Indonesia’s commitment to recognize 1.4 million hectares of customary forests over the next four years — a move described as a strategic effort to position IPLCs as key pillars in national climate action and ecosystem stewardship.
Julmansyah also stressed the importance of collaboration and shared leadership, affirming Indonesia’s readiness to partner with stakeholders to enhance IPLC participation and reinforce the country’s role in global climate leadership.
