Major land rights win for Indigenous Peoples over forest area the size of Hong Kong in Southwest Papua
Four thousand Indigenous Papuans from the Knasaimos peoples have recently received legal recognition of their customary rights over 241,000 acres of tropical rainforest in Indonesia’s Southwest Papua province. Before this, these Indigenous Papuans were largely ignored by the Indonesian legal system, while land concessions were given to loggers and plantation companies. As a result, much of the land was cleared and converted for industrial use. The land now recognized under customary rights is held by local clans, each with collective traditional titles over territories that include sago groves, food gardens, and housing. Outsiders are allowed only to rent land within the customary area. This recognition is particularly significant for women, many of whom rely on the land for their livelihoods. Duketini Marlina Youwe of Bentara Papua, a local organization, emphasizes that the traditional forests are integral to the Knasaimos' identity and serve as sources of food, building materials, and medicine. Many women collect food and medicinal plants, provide them to their families, and also generate income by selling produce. While this legal recognition represents an important step forward, many Indigenous communities continue to lose their land, forests, and biodiversity to corporate interests. Campaigners from Greenpeace Indonesia highlight that full legal protection and recognition of Indigenous forests are necessary for lasting solutions. Kiki Taufik, Global Head of Greenpeace Indonesia’s Forest Campaign, stresses that this recognition must be extended to all Indigenous peoples to truly protect their lands and cultures.
