“The process at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has been completed. I will schedule a meeting with the President to discuss this. I have no doubt to immediately establish the Ammatoa Kajang Indigenous Forest.”

Commitment by Dr. Ir. Siti Nurbaya Bakar, M.Sc, Minister of Environment and Forestry, in front of the Ammatoa Kajang Indigenous Community, during her visit to the Ammatoa Kajang customary area, Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi, on August 8, 2016.

Jakarta, August 11, 2016 – Based on data from the Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation, the minister’s visit is part of the process of establishing the Amamtoa Kajang customary forest, initially initiated by AMAN South Sulawesi and the Indonesia Legal Aid Foundation. The process includes: First, Preparation of the Bulukumba Regency Regional Regulation No. 9 of 2015 concerning the Affirmation, Recognition of Rights and Protection of Customary Law Community Rights of Ammatoa Kajang; Second, Registration of Customary Forest by the Ammatoa Kajang Customary Community by submitting an application letter and attaching the Regional Regulation; Third, Verification and Validation by the Directorate Team for Handling Tenure and Customary Forest Conflicts, BPKH VII, BP DAS Jeneberang Walnae, Bulukumba Forestry and Plantation Service; Fourth, Presentation of the Verification and Validation Results concluded that the forest rights application by the Kajang Customary Community meets the requirements for approval by the Minister; Fifth, Public Consultation held on January 28, 2016.

Ammatoa Kajang is one of the thirteen locations currently undergoing advocacy for customary forests. The thirteen locations are: 1). Seko in North Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi; 2). Marga Serampas in Merangin Regency, Jambi; 3). Mukim Lango in West Aceh Regency, Aceh; 4). Kasepuhan Karang in Lebak Regency, Banten; 5). Ammatoa Kajang in Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi; 6). Malalo Tigo Jurai in Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra; 7). Margo Suku IX in Lebong Regency, Bengkulu; 8). Ketemenggungan Desa Belaban Ella in Melawi Regency, West Kalimantan; 9). Ngata Marena in Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi; 10). Lipu Wana Posangke in Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi; 11). Mukim Beungga in Pidie Regency, Aceh; 12). Ketemenggungan Desa Tapang Semadak in Sekadau Regency, West Kalimantan; and 13). Kampong Mului in Paser Regency, East Kalimantan.

Based on the Constitutional Court Decision No. 35 and Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 32/2015, four customary communities (Kasepuhan Karang, Tau Taa Wana Posangke, Marga Serampas, and Kajang) have submitted requests for the establishment of customary forests to the Minister of Environment and Forestry, as stipulated in Ministerial Regulation No. 32 of 2015 regarding Customary Forests, on October 15, 2015. However, to this day, the ministry has only processed two customary forests (Kajang and Marga Serampas), culminating in