It won the prize for its efforts towards protecting and securing their rights to land, territory and natural resources.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The indigenous community of Dayak Benuaq in Muara Tae, West Kutai, East Kalimantan province, has won the Equator Prize of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
It won the prize for its efforts towards protecting and securing their rights to land, territory and natural resources.
Secretary General of the Indigenous Peoples Alliance of the Archipelago (Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara/AMAN) Abdon Nababan said here on Tuesday that Muara Tae is a real example of a community rescuing the forest, and should be supported by the international community.
The indigenous peoples in Muara Tae keep protecting and preserving their traditional forests by establishing forest guard huts and carrying out nursery activities and tree planting campaigns.
Muara Taes target was to rehabilitate 700 hectares of damaged forest land.
Muara Tae is home to about 20 species of reptiles, honey bears and proboscis monkeys. It also is home to a wide variety of herbaceous plants as well as ironwood, aloes, and meranti trees.
For these efforts, Muara Tae has been awarded the Equator Prize, given to indigenous peoples and local communities which seek to combat poverty, protect environment and strengthen resilience in the face of climate change.
Specifically, the Equator Prize is awarded to those who protect and secure peoples rights to land, territory and natural resources.
The indigenous community of Muara Tae is one of the 20 communities awarded the Equator Prize after competing with 1,461 nominees from 126 countries.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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