The issuance of the Regional Regulation on the Recognition of the Mentawai Indigenous Peoples provides legal protection for Indigenous rights at the district level. However, new laws and inaction by the central government have paved the way for timber companies to exploit their land, natural resources and culture.
For years, the people of Mentawai have fought against the exploitation of their forests. The latest permit for timber estates issued by the government in Siberut Island was in 2017, without having consulted local communities
Besides having ecological benefits, mangroves are also used for medicinal purposes and the Tidore Islands community, have been reaping benefit from the plant for generations.
High hopes surrounded the Social Forestry program in the Batang Anai region, West Sumatera. Ecotourism activities that started in 2013 stopped operating soon after, while supporting facilities crumbled.
The reforestation of slopes in the mountainous area of the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park in East Java has set an example where community involvement is paramount to its success.
The expansion of private oil palm plantation in Gane Dalam, Halmahera is inevitable. Some residents choose to stay on the remaining land they have. Some of them sold their land and become labourers on the plantation. While environmentalists ask the government to review permits and policies that are deemed as not in favour of the local community.
As the 24th Conference of Parties wrapped up in Katowice, questions remains on key issues, amid countries renewing their emission reductions. Indonesia has been actively involved in the UN climate talks since 1994 and it remains committed to its NDCs while renewing commitments especially in carbon emissions and forest and peatland governance.
Legal recognition for community-based forest management does not immediately increase people’s income or welfare. Three Pakpak Bharat forest farmers groups, which have obtained community forest permits, expressed the challenges they face following their permit issuance.
Excessive water exploitation has lead to the drying up of rivers and paddy fields in villages of Kudus district. Efforts have been taken including the prohibition of selling surface water from Mount Muria but water discharge is yet to improve. Water scarcity in Kudus calls for concerted effort in the conservation of protected forest of Mount Muria.
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