“The President is consistent in promoting and protecting the rights of indigenous people in the archipelago,” Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar said in a speech during the opening ceremony of the fifth congress of the Indigenous People’s Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) in Tanjung Gusta, Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, on Friday.

As many as 2,304 indigenous community members are attending the congress.

Among customary forests acknowledged by the government are Kulawi in Sigi regency, Southeast Sulawesi, and Tapang Semadak in Sekadau regency, West Kalimantan.

(Read also: Carnival of culture opens indigenous people's congress in North Sumatra)

The government officially acknowledged customary forests in December 2016. In the first stage of the process, President Jokowi issued government decrees that acknowledged the customary forests of nine indigenous communities. He handed over certificates for the forests, which cover 13,122.3 hectares, to customary leaders in a ceremony.

Siti said the government was striving to complete its plan to reclaim another 7,000 ha of customary forests from pulp and paper company PT Toba Pulp Lestari’s concession areas, after it managed to take 5,100 ha in December.

Apart from acknowledging customary forests, Siti said the government would also support indigenous people in marketing products created from customary forests.

It would be difficult for indigenous people to optimally benefit from customary forests if they did not have adequate market access, she added. (ebf)

Popular

Volcano erupts in North Sulawesi, hundreds evacuated

Dubai roads, airport reel from floods after record rains

Ramadan boosts consumer confidence, retail sales