The Ministry of Forestry held a national workshop in Jakarta to push forward the designation of 1.4 million hectares of customary forests, following Indonesia’s climate commitments at COP30.
As a concrete follow-up to global climate commitments discussed at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the Government of Indonesia, through the Ministry of Forestry, held a National Workshop titled “Gerak Bersama Percepatan Penetapan 1.4 Million Hectares of Resilient and Sustainable Customary Forests”. The workshop took place on 17–18 December 2025 at Aryaduta Hotel Menteng, Jakarta, and brought together government representatives, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders.
In his opening remarks, Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni underlined the need for a fundamental shift in how Indonesia manages its forests. He stressed that development models must protect ecological functions while still supporting economic growth. According to the Minister, the current scale of forest management is not matched by adequate security capacity or supporting budgets. Continuing to rely on outdated methods while expecting different outcomes, he said, is a basic mistake. Sustainable forest governance, therefore, should become a national priority.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of a stronger state presence in protecting Indigenous Forest Communities (Masyarakat Hutan Adat), ensuring that customary laws and cultural practices are respected while communities respond to modern pressures. He referred to directives from the President, delivered at COP30, to accelerate the recognition of 1.4 million hectares of customary forest land and to improve forestry governance to meet this target.
To support this goal, the Ministry of Forestry has established a Task Force for the Acceleration of Customary Forest Designation under Decree No. 144 of 2025. The task force applies inclusive and cross-sector collaboration principles. Empirical studies cited during the workshop indicate that forests managed by local communities can reduce deforestation rates by 30–50 per cent, highlighting their role in disaster mitigation and regional resilience.
The task force aims to designate 1.4 million hectares of customary forests between 2025 and 2029. To date, recognition has been granted to 169 Indigenous communities, covering approximately 366,955 hectares and benefiting more than 88,000 households. During the event, the Minister formally handed over a decree recognising 30,700 hectares of customary forest to the Dayak Punan Uheng Kereho community in Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan. The Ministry also introduced a verification handbook as part of the practical roadmap to reach the national target.
