"In March, a task force was formed to handle this. I have asked that unresolved territorial conflicts be clustered for faster resolution to revive our optimism," Antoni said at the closing of the TERRA for Customary Forest (TERRA-CF) project in Jakarta on Monday.
The ministry will work to resolve challenges in stages, starting with simpler cases while simultaneously improving regulations, he added.
Steps already taken include the creation of the Task Force for the Acceleration of Customary Forest Recognition, which brings together NGOs and academics from various universities.
The ministry aims to recognize 70,000 hectares of customary forests this year under the Social Forestry Program. From 2016 to 2025, a total of 334,092 hectares have been recognized through 161 decrees, spanning 19 provinces and 41 districts.
"I believe indigenous peoples are among the best guardians of our forests, particularly for their ability to manage them sustainably," Antoni said.
He also expressed appreciation for the TERRA-CF project, supported by the Environmental Fund Management Agency (BPDLH) and the Climate and Land Use Alliance (CLUA).
Through the project, Rp14.8 billion (US$946,000) has been distributed to 107 indigenous communities in 15 provinces to strengthen their capacity in managing customary forests independently.
As of early September, the ministry has issued 11,065 Social Forestry Decrees covering 8.4 million hectares for 1.4 million households.
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Translator: Prisca, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso
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