Extent of Forest Area in Indonesia's Customary Territories until August 2025

According to data from the Indigenous Territory Registration Agency (BRWA), as of August 2025, 33.65 million hectares (ha) of indigenous territories have been mapped and registered with BRWA.

This area comprises 1,633 maps of indigenous territories, covering thousands of indigenous communities across 32 provinces in Indonesia.

"Maps of indigenous territories are a manifestation of the spirit of indigenous communities in asserting themselves and determining their own destiny in preserving and managing their indigenous territories," BRWA explained in its statement.

Based on the forest area tenure status, the majority of forests in indigenous territories are protected forests, covering an area of 6.79 million ha. This is followed by limited production forests, which span 6.55 million ha.

Below are the details of forest areas in Indonesian indigenous territories as of August 2025, according to data released by BRWA:

• Protected forests: 6,791,637 ha
• Limited production forests: 6,554,945 ha
• Conservation areas: 6,032,696 ha
• Production forests: 4,627,846 ha
• Convertible production forests: 2,252,966 ha

Nevertheless, BRWA stated that the release of indigenous territory data is presented in the context of the climate crisis and land degradation affecting the world and Indonesia.

Currently, these two crises intertwine and exacerbate the condition of indigenous communities. This is because the climate crisis has triggered extreme weather patterns, prolonged droughts, flash floods, and forest and land fires.

"In such a situation, indigenous communities are among the most affected groups, as their lives are highly dependent on the balance of natural ecosystems," it explained.

"However, at the same time, indigenous communities are also important actors in climate change mitigation and adaptation," BRWA added.

It should be noted that BRWA is not an institution that conducts participatory mapping activities in indigenous territories.

The maps registered with BRWA are the result of the work of indigenous communities and accompanying institutions or facilitators of indigenous territory mapping.