On 3-5 April 2024, the Association of Legal Reform Indonesia (HuMa) collaborated with Lingkar Lestari Association (PLHL) and PADI Indonesia Association held a Workshop entitled Preparation of Customary Forest Proposal in Bulungan Regency, North Kalimantan Province. The workshop, which took place at Luminor Hotel, Tanjung Selor, was attended by PKTHA KLHK, the Forestry Office of North Kalimantan Province, the local government of Bulungan Regency, the Regional Development Planning Agency of Bulungan Regency, Civil Society Organizations, and representatives of Customary Law Community from 6 Communities: Long Peso Customary Community; Long Pelban Customary Community; Beluah Customary Community; Maritam Customary Community; Klising Customary Community; and Kelembunan Customary Community.

The objectives of this workshop are: firstly for Customary Law Communities and their supporters to receive information and knowledge related to the recognition of Customary Law Communities and customary forests from KLHK, the Provincial Government of North Kalimantan, and the Local Government of Bulungan Regency; and secondly for Customary Law Communities to understand the process of submitting proposals for the recognition of customary law communities and the establishment of customary forests and to have the ability to prepare Customary Forest proposals.

During the workshop, Linda Novita Ding, S.Hut (Functional Officer in charge of Ecosystem Control of Young Forest Experts, Forestry Office of North Kalimantan Province) stated, “The Recognition Program for Customary Law Communities and Customary Forests has been included in the Provincial Mid-Term Development Plan of North Kalimantan 2021-2026. In North Kalimantan, there are already 3 Regencies with regulations recognizing Customary Law Communities, namely Malinau Regency, Nunukan Regency, and Bulungan Regency. From 2017 to 2023, at least 14 Customary Law Community in these 3 regencies have been recognized through the Regent’s Decree. Furthermore, out of the 14 recognized Customary Law Communities in North Kalimantan, 13 have submitted documents for the Establishment of Customary Forests to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.”

“Bulungan Regency has had a regulation regarding Customary Law Communities since 2016, namely Regional Regulation No. 12 of 2016 concerning the Organization and Protection of Customary Law Communities. After that, a Customary Law Community Committee was formed, and recently, the Chairman of the Customary Law Community Committee issued guidelines for the Identification, Registration, and Verification of Customary Law Communities. There are already 5 Customary Law Communities proposing the establishment of Customary Law Communities, namely: (1) Punan Batu Benau Sajau Community; (2) Punan Tugung Community; (3) Belusu Rayo Community; (4) Gaai Kung Kemul Community; and (5) Adat Dayak Uma’ Kulit Community. Until now, only the Punan Batu Benau Sajau Community has been established through the Regent’s Decree No. 188.45/319 of 2023 concerning the recognition and protection of the Punan Batu Benau Sajau customary law community in Bulungan Regency, the rest are still undergoing document verification.” added Adwin R Masoang (Head of Community Empowerment, Regional Development Planning Agency of Bulungan Regency).

Furthermore, Sub-Directorate of Customary Forest Recognition and Customary Forests – PKTHA KLHK, Yuli Prasetyo Nugroho, explained about the synergy of Customary Law Communities’ recognition and the Establishment of Customary Forests. Presidential Regulation 28 of 2023 concerning Acceleration of Social Forestry serves as