BRWA: Recognition of Customary Territories in Indonesia Remains Low

According to the Indigenous Customary Territory Registration Agency (BRWA), the area of registered customary territories as of March 18, 2024, reached 28.2 million hectares (ha), encompassing 1,425 customary territories across 33 provinces and 161 regencies/cities.

Meanwhile, the area of customary territories that have received government recognition status is only 3.9 million ha.

Head of the BRWA, Kasmita Widodo, stated that this area represents only 13.8% of the total registered customary territories in the BRWA.

"The low achievement of customary territory recognition by local governments is due to the lack of adequate programs and funding provided by the government," said Kasmita, as quoted from a press release on Tuesday (March 19, 2024).

The BRWA report also shows that 21.24 million ha of customary territories are currently undergoing status recognition procedures. The remaining 2.97 million ha have not yet undergone such procedures.

To date, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) has only designated 244,195 ha in 131 customary territories. However, the potential of customary forests from customary territories registered with the BRWA reaches 22.8 million ha.

The Secretary General of the Indigenous Peoples' Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN), Rukka Sombolinggi, said that during Indonesia's current government transition, indigenous communities' villages continue to face pressure from land-based investments.

In AMAN's 2023 Year-End Report, Rukka continued, the seizure of customary territories reached 2.5 million hectares, accompanied by the criminalization and violence against indigenous peoples. Meanwhile, according to her, there has been no significant improvement in the protection and recognition of indigenous peoples' rights.

According to Rukka, the absence of an Indigenous Peoples Law (UUMA) causes the recognition of indigenous peoples to be carried out following sectoral regulations. "As a result, there is no national-level institution or program that can drive the entire process of protecting and recognizing the rights of indigenous peoples in Indonesia," she said.

Rukka stated that threats to indigenous peoples and customary territories are potentially ongoing during the government transition and in future administrations.

"The lack of an Indigenous Peoples Law, the massive investment, and the implementation of the government's National Strategic Projects (PSN) are a perfect combination for the seizure of customary territories and the displacement of indigenous peoples from their living spaces," she said.