Jakarta (VNA) - The Indonesian Government has set up a Task Force for the Acceleration of Customary Forest Designation, with the aim of speeding up the legal recognition of customary forests (known as hutan adat).
At least 70,000 hectares are expected to be formalised by the end of 2025, said Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni on September 18.
The task force is mandated to cut through bureaucratic hurdles that have long delayed recognition of indigenous land rights.
Since 2016, the government has recognised 332,000 hectares of customary forests, but at least 1.4 million hectares remain eligible, he said.
Antoni said that the Task Force reflects an inclusive approach, bringing together academics, activists and civil society groups that have long advocated for indigenous land rights.
Indonesia, home to the world’s third-largest rainforest after Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo, has faced pressure to strengthen protections for indigenous communities and curb deforestation, even as it seeks to expand palm oil, mining and infrastructure projects./.
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