Environmental issues have once again drawn public attention following reports of deforestation in Papua, where customary forests have been cleared for palm oil plantations and mining activities. More than 500 hectares of forest and natural vegetation in the Raja Ampat Islands, Papua, for instance, have been exploited for nickel mining. This has sparked resistance from local communities, particularly young Papuans who continue to defend their forests.
A banner written in the Tehit language, meaning “Help Us Protect This Customary Forest,” welcomed dozens of young people from various customary regions across Papua who participated in the Forest Defender Camp (FDC) held in the Knasaimos customary forest area, Manggroholo-Sira Village, South Sorong Regency, Southwest Papua, on September 23.
Dr. Hatma Suryatmojo, a lecturer at the Faculty of Forestry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Forestry UGM), commended the commitment of young people who stand at the forefront of efforts to save their forests from deforestation caused by mining and plantation activities.
“I deeply respect the movement of Papuan youth. They demonstrate concrete ecological leadership by protecting local food sources, preserving water resources for both local and broader communities, and promoting local-scale energy independence, all of which depend on the vital role of healthy forests,” said Dr. Suryatmojo on Friday (Oct. 10).
For Dr. Suryatmojo, defending indigenous forests is not merely a collective act calling for justice, but it is also a strategic use of technological advancement as a tool for advocacy.
“They are integrating customary wisdom with modern technology, such as participatory mapping, digital documentation, and forest ranger training, which strengthens and expands their advocacy networks,” he explained.
He emphasized that initiatives like All Eyes on Papua and the Forest Defender Camp highlight the essential role of Papuan youth as frontline guardians of living spaces, not only for local communities but for humanity at large. According to him, indigenous forests are not only symbols of identity but also vital engines that sustain food, energy, and water security on a daily basis.
“Protecting indigenous forests means ensuring that kitchens stay warm, water continues to flow, the environment remains sustainable, and the dignity and sovereignty of traditional knowledge are upheld,” he remarked.
Dr. Suryatmojo further explained that forests serve as life reservoirs, fulfilling the needs of all living beings from providing water resources to supplying biomass fuel used by communities. Ecologically, indigenous forests maintain habitat connectivity, absorb carbon, and preserve ecosystem services that underpin climate adaptation and mitigation.
Legally, he noted that the foundation for protecting indigenous forests is already strong. The Constitutional Court Decision No. 35/PUU-X/2012 affirms that indigenous forests are those located within customary territories, making their recognition and protection a constitutional mandate.
However, in practice, implementation remains inconsistent due to overlapping permits and a slow recognition process.
“On the ground, implementation is still gradual, starting with the need for local governments to formally recognize Indigenous Law Communities, followed by boundary delineation and the resolution of overlapping permits which is a process that often takes a long time. Technical and governance challenges continue to hinder progress at the regional level,” he said.
Given the complexity of indigenous forest issues in Indonesia, Dr. Suryatmojo stressed the need for concrete steps to resolve them. He urged the government to accelerate the recognition and formal designation of indigenous forests, resolve land conflicts, ensure legal certainty, and impose a moratorium on new permits in mapped areas.
He also called for the development of ecosystem service-based financing schemes and the strengthening of local community capacity.
“Building collaborative forest management partnerships is also essential to ensure the sustainability of indigenous forests,” he concluded.
Author: Salwa
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Rajedra Arya
Photograph: Greenpeace