Traditional communities are pushing for the protection of forests from deforestation. In this regard, the government is on the same page …Jakarta (ANTARA) -
Indonesia's Environment and Forestry (LHK) Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar has affirmed that the government and traditional communities share the same view about the need to protect customary forest lands in Papua.
"Traditional communities are pushing for the protection of forests from deforestation. In this regard, the government is on the same page with them, since we are against the conversion of primary forests into palm oil plantations," she said in Jakarta on Wednesday.
She made the statement in response to a viral digital poster with the tagline "All Eyes on Papua," which claims that 36 thousand hectares of forest land in Boven Digoel, South Papua, will be converted into a palm oil plantation.
On May 27, 2024, representatives of the South Papuan Awyu Tribe and West Papuan Moi tribes held a demonstration in front of the Supreme Court (MA), Jakarta, to oppose the land conversion, arguing that the lands are customary and serve as their source of life.
Bakar said that the government has revoked the forest land utilization permits of two companies, namely PT MJR and PT KCP.
The permits, which allowed the companies to convert the use of 38 thousand hectares of forest land in Boven Digoel, were granted during the 2010–2012 period.
In response, the two corporations have filed a lawsuit against the government's decision with the State Administrative Court (PTUN). The legal proceedings are still on.
According to Bakar, the permits were revoked in accordance with the Job Creation Law and Government Regulation No. 23 of 2021, which stipulates that no primary forests should be used for palm oil plantations.
She underlined that the LHK Ministry is currently striving to officially grant the forest land in Boven Digoel the status of a customary forest.
"We are in the process of declaring the land a customary forest," she stressed.
Related news: SW Papua urges indigenous people to protect sustainability of forests
Related news: Forests source of wealth for Papua's local communities: official
"Traditional communities are pushing for the protection of forests from deforestation. In this regard, the government is on the same page with them, since we are against the conversion of primary forests into palm oil plantations," she said in Jakarta on Wednesday.
She made the statement in response to a viral digital poster with the tagline "All Eyes on Papua," which claims that 36 thousand hectares of forest land in Boven Digoel, South Papua, will be converted into a palm oil plantation.
On May 27, 2024, representatives of the South Papuan Awyu Tribe and West Papuan Moi tribes held a demonstration in front of the Supreme Court (MA), Jakarta, to oppose the land conversion, arguing that the lands are customary and serve as their source of life.
Bakar said that the government has revoked the forest land utilization permits of two companies, namely PT MJR and PT KCP.
The permits, which allowed the companies to convert the use of 38 thousand hectares of forest land in Boven Digoel, were granted during the 2010–2012 period.
In response, the two corporations have filed a lawsuit against the government's decision with the State Administrative Court (PTUN). The legal proceedings are still on.
According to Bakar, the permits were revoked in accordance with the Job Creation Law and Government Regulation No. 23 of 2021, which stipulates that no primary forests should be used for palm oil plantations.
She underlined that the LHK Ministry is currently striving to officially grant the forest land in Boven Digoel the status of a customary forest.
"We are in the process of declaring the land a customary forest," she stressed.
Related news: SW Papua urges indigenous people to protect sustainability of forests
Related news: Forests source of wealth for Papua's local communities: official
Translator: Prisca T, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2024
