Approximately 7.1 Million Hectares of Concessions are Located in Indonesian Customary Territories

As of March 2025, the Indigenous Customary Territory Registration Agency (BRWA) recorded approximately 7.1 million hectares (ha) of concessions located within Indonesian customary territories.

These concessions are spread across four categories: Forest Area Utilization Business Permits (PBPH-HA), Plantation Forest Utilization Business Permits (PBPH-HT), Mining Business Licenses (IU-Mining), and Land Use Rights (HGU).

The majority of concessions in customary territories are granted to parties under the PBPH-HA category, totaling 3,727,022 ha. Following this are PBPH-HT with 1,577,649 ha, HGU with 945,074 ha, and IU-Mining with 917,054 ha.

In total, the area of concessions in customary territories reaches 7,166,799 ha. Up to March 2025, the BRWA has registered 1,583 customary territories covering 32.3 million ha across Indonesia.

However, local governments have only designated 302 customary territories, encompassing 5.3 million ha. According to the BRWA, the slow recognition of customary territories can have implications for indigenous communities.

One consequence is the ongoing legal uncertainty faced by indigenous communities regarding territories they have managed for generations. Furthermore, according to BRWA Head Kasmita Widodo, the delay in recognizing customary territories can also lead to an increased potential for tenurial conflicts within these areas.

“In addition, a series of National Strategic Projects and land-based business permits that alter landscapes potentially threaten biodiversity, local food sources, and the culture of indigenous communities who have a close relationship with their living space on land, coast, and sea,” he stated, as quoted from the BRWA website.

(Read: Recognition of Customary Territories in Indonesia Remains Suboptimal as of March 2025)