HuMa collaborates with Meudaya Association to organize a Field School on May 18-21, 2024, at the Suka Tani Village Hall, South Juli District. The agenda of this field school is part of the efforts to strengthen the South Juli District community in accelerating the recognition and establishment of customary forests in the district.

Quoting from the latest data, by the end of 2023, a total of 22,549 hectares of forests in Aceh have been recognized as customary forests in the district, spread across three regencies for eight indigenous communities in the district. However, the South Juli District has not yet obtained official recognition due to several technical obstacles that require further efforts.

Although administratively and in terms of documentation, South Juli District has met the requirements, efforts to re-propose the designation of their customary forest areas are needed to obtain official recognition. Considering the strategic role of the district in Aceh’s governance and its functions as a Government institution, Customary Institution, and Community of Customary Law, this step becomes crucial to be taken.

In this context, the Field School organized by HuMa along with Meudaya Association becomes an important arena for the community to deepen their understanding of the rights to manage customary forests. The objectives of this activity include strengthening the community’s legal understanding, social and spatial analysis, and drafting advocacy strategies to accelerate the designation of customary forests in South Juli.

The expected outcomes of this activity include a deeper understanding of the mechanisms for proposing and managing customary forests, identifying the potential of the community’s territories and natural resources, as well as a collective agenda to advocate for the establishment of customary forests in the district.

Therefore, this Field School serves not only as a learning platform but also as a forum to formulate strategic steps in facing challenges and advocating for the rights to customary forests, following the spirit of local wisdom and Aceh’s special status in preserving its natural heritage.

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To access the modules of the field school, visit publikasi.huma.or.id