Indonesia Pledges to Recognize 1.4 Million Hectares of Indigenous Forests by 2029

Indonesia's Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, announced a landmark commitment at the United for Wildlife Global Summit in Rio de Janeiro on November 4, 2025. He pledged to formally recognize an additional 1.4 million hectares of new Indigenous forests across the archipelago between 2025 and 2029, as reported by the Ministry of Forestry. This significant initiative underscores Indonesia's dedication to environmental stewardship and community rights.

This ambitious target follows a direct directive from President Prabowo Subianto, aiming to accelerate the legal recognition of these vital forest areas. To streamline this complex process, a Special Task Force for Accelerating the Recognition of Indigenous Forests was officially established in March 2025, according to a press release from the Ministry of Forestry.

Minister Antoni emphasized that the program's core objectives are multifaceted, focusing on protecting Indonesia's rich biodiversity, strengthening community-based forest governance, and actively combating environmental crimes. He highlighted the indispensable role of Indigenous Peoples, referring to them as the "true guardians of our forests," during his address at the summit, a statement confirmed by voi.

The recognition of these Indigenous forests is projected to yield substantial environmental benefits, including a significant reduction in deforestation rates by an estimated 30 to 50 percent. This positive forecast is supported by data from the State of Indonesia's Forest (SOIFO) 2024 report, which Minister Antoni cited during his presentation.

The United for Wildlife Global Summit, a prestigious gathering organized by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, served as the platform for this announcement. The event in Rio de Janeiro, attended by global leaders including Prince William, focused on addressing environmental crime and recognized the critical role of Indigenous communities in conservation efforts, as detailed by United for Wildlife.

This commitment is an integral part of Indonesia's broader national strategy to enhance legal clarity and tenure security within forest management, thereby strengthening efforts to combat environmental crimes. Minister Antoni reiterated that supporting community-based governance is fundamental to achieving sustainable forest practices across the nation, according to the Ministry of Forestry.

• Historical Context of Indigenous Forest Rights: Historically, Indigenous communities in Indonesia have faced considerable challenges in securing legal rights to their ancestral lands, with customary forests frequently classified as state property. A pivotal 2013 Constitutional Court ruling marked a turning point, distinguishing customary forests from state forests and laying the groundwork for greater recognition of Indigenous land rights, as noted by World Agroforestry and Eco-Business.

• Challenges in the Recognition Process: Despite the existence of legal frameworks, Indigenous communities often encounter arduous and costly bureaucratic processes to formally prove their traditional land claims and the customary nature of their forests. Administrative delays and varying political will between central and regional governments have historically prolonged the recognition process, sometimes extending from 4 to 12 years, according to kompas.id.

• Role and Mandate of the Special Task Force: The Special Task Force for Accelerating the Recognition of Indigenous Forests, established in March 2025, is specifically designed to overcome these long-standing bureaucratic hurdles. This task force, which includes active participation from academics and civil society groups, aims to significantly expedite the formalization of customary forest designations, as reported by ANTARA News.

• Significance of Community-Based Governance: Empowering Indigenous communities through formal recognition is crucial for reinforcing their role as effective custodians of forest ecosystems. This community-based forest management (CBFM) approach is vital for promoting sustainable resource management, protecting biodiversity, and combating illegal activities, a principle strongly emphasized by Minister Antoni at the recent summit.

• Previous Recognition Efforts and Future Potential: Prior to this new commitment, Indonesia had recognized approximately 332,000 hectares of customary forests since 2016, with an estimated 1.4 million hectares still eligible for recognition. The current target of 1.4 million hectares between 2025 and 2029 represents a substantial expansion of these previous efforts, signaling a renewed national commitment to Indigenous rights, according to Vietnam+ and a report by HuMa.

• Economic and Social Implications: Legal recognition of Indigenous forests provides essential tenure security, which can lead to improved livelihoods and reduced poverty for local communities. It also safeguards traditional cultural practices that are intrinsically linked to forest ecosystems, which have often been threatened by exploitation from external interests such as mining and logging, as highlighted by WRI Indonesia and Human Rights Watch.

• Global Context and Combating Environmental Crime: The United for Wildlife Global Summit in Rio de Janeiro underscored the international community's focus on environmental crime, including the illegal wildlife trade and deforestation. Prince William's involvement and the summit's agenda reflect a growing global consensus that protecting Indigenous lands is integral to broader conservation and climate action efforts, as noted by United for Wildlife and ITV News.

• Alignment with National Development Goals: This initiative aligns seamlessly with President Prabowo Subianto's "Asta Cita" development agenda, particularly its eighth pillar, which prioritizes balancing economic growth with robust environmental protection. The Ministry of Forestry views this program as a strategic component to position forests as a reliable source of food security and a key driver of the green economy, as stated by ANTARA News and EnviroNews.