Jakarta, August 16, 2016 – A day before the commemoration of Indonesia’s Independence Day, three representatives of communities from Marga Serampas in Jambi, Amatoa Kajang in South Sulawesi, and Wana Posangke in Central Sulawesi, visited the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) to receive the 2016 Sustainable Forest Award. These three community groups received the Sustainable Forest Award for their commitment to preserving forest areas.

During their visit, they hoped that the government would expedite the process of recognizing customary forests, which they have been advocating for. “The Sustainable Forest Award aims to optimize and enhance the community’s motivation to actively participate in forestry development, so it is advisable for the government to promptly acknowledge their living space through the recognition of customary forests,” said Diki Kurniawan, Executive Director of KKI Warsi, who accompanied the advocacy of the Marga Serampas community in Jambi.

Nearly a year ago at Hotel Peninsula Jakarta (9/5/2015), representatives of indigenous communities from Marga Serampas in Jambi, Kasepuhan Karang in Banten, Amatoa Kajang in South Sulawesi, and Wana Posangke in Central Sulawesi, submitted the recognition of their customary forests to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry. However, to this day, no customary forest has been definitively established.

According to the Legal Analysis Division of HuMa Association, they have actually fulfilled the legal requirements mandated by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation on Forest Rights (Ministerial Regulation No. 32/2015) to be designated as customary forests. They attached at least three documents: a statement requesting the recognition of customary forests, a Regional Regulation on Recognition and Protection of Indigenous Communities, and a map of their territory and customary forests. Thus, the recognition of customary forests only awaits confirmation from the state to become a protective barrier for their living space.

Amran Tambaru, Executive Director of the Red and White Foundation (YMP) Palu, also mentioned that various efforts to fight for their rights have been made in the region since three years ago. “This preparation process, aside from meeting the prerequisites for recognizing customary forests, is also done to prove to various parties that the management of customary forests by communities is actually capable of preserving the ecological functions of forests,” added Amran.

A week prior (8/8/2016), the Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, committed to expediting the customary forest designation process when visiting one of the three forest locations that received the Sustainable Forest Award. In front of the Amatoa Kajang indigenous community, the Minister expressed this commitment. “The process at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry is complete. I will schedule a meeting with the President to discuss this. I have no doubt anymore about promptly designating the Kajang Customary Forest,” stated Siti Nurbaya Bakar.

The hope that the Sustainable Forest Award will expedite the process of recognizing customary forests also came from Sardi Razak, Chairman of AMAN PW South Sulawesi. “The Minister’s visit to Kajang last time showed her commitment, and now the Kajang community has received an award for preserving the forest, so there is no reason to hinder the process of recognizing customary forests. It is a promise that must be fulfilled promptly,” he said.

“The government needs to expedite the customary forest designation process. Besides being a manifestation of the state’s commitment to indigenous communities, the recognition of customary forests also supports President Jokowi’s commitment to achieving the target of 12.7 million hectares of