Cali, Colombia – October 24, 2024 — Nearly 200 countries gathered in Cali, Colombia, to negotiate efforts to halt and reverse the destruction of nature and the extinction of biodiversity. Indonesian Civil Society Organizations attending in Cali called on the negotiating delegation from the Government of Indonesia, as well as the global community, to support agendas related to the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPs & LCs).
The Urgency of Supporting the Indigenous Peoples Agenda at COP16
Respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities plays a vital role in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) agreed upon two years ago. At COP16 CBD, Indigenous Peoples urged participating nations to ensure full recognition of Indigenous Peoples' contributions to global biodiversity protection. They also pushed for the establishment of a permanent body (Subsidiary Body) specifically bound to Article 8(j) regarding local knowledge, innovations, and traditional practices in biodiversity conservation.
Regrettably, representatives of the Indonesian delegation rejected the establishment of this Subsidiary Body—even though the contributions of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities toward achieving KM-GBF targets are immense.
"The Indonesian delegation's rejection of establishing a Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) concerning Traditional Knowledge, Innovations, and Practices is a step backward. Discussions regarding making the Working Group on Article 8(j) permanent have been ongoing for 20 years to ensure the protection of traditional knowledge, as well as the innovations and practices carried out by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in utilizing and protecting genetic resources. Following the KM-GBF commitments, having a framework and establishing a Subsidiary Body could guarantee and measure the justice and social dimensions of KM-GBF implementation," said Cindy Julianty from WGII (Working Group on Indigenous and Local Communities-Conserved Areas and Territories Indonesia).
Currently, mapped customary territories in Indonesia have reached 30.1 million hectares. However, only 16% of these areas have been legally recognized.
"Guaranteeing land tenure rights for Indigenous Peoples is paramount if we want to protect the remaining biodiversity," stated Kasmita Widodo, Head of the Ancestral Domain Registration Agency (BRWA).
Securing and protecting Indigenous territories and conservation areas will assist Indonesia in achieving its 30×30 target (protecting 30% of terrestrial and marine biodiversity areas by 2030). According to the latest data from WGII, there are over 22 million hectares of land in Indonesia managed and protected by communities using traditional knowledge, which can contribute to reaching the conservation goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF).
Immediate Action Needed to Stop the Drivers of Biodiversity Loss
Currently, Indonesia's biodiversity is threatened by extractive industrial activities such as mining, logging and forest exploitation, large-scale agriculture, and various national strategic projects. Extractive concessions in Indonesia now cover over 100 million hectares of land and sea (55.5 million hectares on land and 45.4 million hectares at sea). The presence of these industries—driven by global demand for coal, palm oil, timber, and nickel—has caused massive deforestation and habitat destruction.
President Prabowo's inaugural speech on October 20 targeted food self-sufficiency within 4 to 5 years by relying on food estates. Food estate programs are currently being developed across several provinces, including Central Kalimantan, North Sumatra, and South Papua, with a target area exceeding 2 million hectares. This food estate program has resulted in the destruction of biodiversity ecosystems, customary territories, culture, and the local wisdom of Indigenous Peoples.
Ogy Dwi Aulia from Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) emphasized that commitments to biodiversity protection must be demonstrated through concrete actions to significantly reduce extractive industry activities that endanger Indonesia's biodiversity, such as nickel, palm oil, food estates, HPH (logging concessions), HTI (industrial timber plantations), and mining.
"Currently, there are over 1 million hectares of extractive industries within conservation areas. Furthermore, 20.5 million hectares of extractive industries sit within critical ecosystem areas, such as wildlife corridors, biodiversity parks, and key biodiversity areas," Ogy added.
Indonesia's marine biodiversity also urgently requires protection. Millions of hectares of Indonesian marine areas are currently managed sustainably by coastal communities, contributing to food security and the fulfillment of the Indonesian Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (IBSAP), particularly in efforts to protect 30% of Indonesia's ocean areas.
"Within the Marine, Coastal, and Island Biodiversity agenda, Indonesia needs to support text that ensures public participation in decision-making, access to justice and information, as well as protection for human rights and environmental defenders, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities using a human rights-based approach," explained Rayhan Dudayev from Greenpeace.
"Additionally, it would be highly strategic if Indonesia supported Annex 2(g) to improve understanding of the impacts of ocean acidification and other pressures on island ecosystems, which is deeply relevant to our nation as one of the world's largest maritime countries," he added.
Support Direct Funding for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities
Indigenous Peoples are recognized as one of the world's crucial forces in curbing climate change and biodiversity loss. However, existing financial mechanisms remain inadequate, leaving the Indigenous Peoples who protect biodiversity without sufficient resources.
Therefore, Indonesian Civil Society Organizations call for the creation of a direct funding mechanism to deliver support to Indigenous Peoples, small-scale fishers, farmers, and local communities without relying on risky market-based solutions such as biodiversity credits and offsets.
"We need a transparent and accountable funding system that can be accessed directly by Indigenous Peoples to continue our vital conservation work," said Eustobio Rero Renggi, spokesperson from the Alliance of Indigenous Peoples of the Archipelago (AMAN), who was also present at the COP16 CBD.
Unfortunately, the Indonesian government delegation at COP16 CBD opposed direct funding accessible to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. At the conference, the Indonesian delegation delivered a statement supporting the Indian government’s position that "direct funding" for Indigenous Peoples was unnecessary.
Furthermore, the Indonesian delegation agreed with the Brazilian government's statement that direct funding support must pass through national authorities (the government) so that it can be aligned with national needs and interests.
Eustobio expressed regret over the stance taken by the Indonesian delegation and urged the government to retract its statement.
"On behalf of Indigenous Peoples, we regret the attitude and statements of the Indonesian government delegation, which have disregarded our constitutional rights as primary rights-holders who have safeguarded ecosystems and biodiversity for generations, long before the existence of the state," Eustobio stated.
Furthermore, Eustobio suggested that the Indonesian delegation align with the proposal supported by the majority of nations advocating for direct funding.
"The majority of countries, such as Mexico, Namibia, Switzerland, and even the European Union, among others, have committed to supporting direct funding. The Indonesian government should set a good example by supporting commitments to Indigenous Peoples as seen in other countries—especially given that 60% of the world's largest Indigenous population resides in Asia, with Indonesia being one of them," Eustobio emphasized.
Media Contacts:
Ogy Dwi Aulia – Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI)
Email:
ogy@fwi.or.id| Phone: +62 813-1498-9276Cindy Julianty – WGII (Working Group on Indigenous and Local Communities-Conserved Areas and Territories Indonesia)
Email:
cindy.julianty@gmail.com| Phone: +62 851-2110-7321Eustobio – Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN)
Email:
eustobio@aman.or.id| Phone: +62 823-4229-5139Press Release Attachment (Infographics):
[https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JgDXkhp96RmiJMdlmQiWUF8KgQzexRUS?usp=sharing](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1JgDXkhp96RmiJMdlmQiWUF8KgQzexRUS?usp=sharing)Official COP16 CBD Photo Folder:
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/150988932@N04](https://www.flickr.com/photos/150988932@N04)
Reference Notes:
COP16 is a crucial milestone that stakeholders must monitor to ensure member states complete their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) as a guiding framework for implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF). COP16 CBD will also establish various supporting documents to complement and monitor the national implementation of KM-GBF commitments, detailed across negotiation items such as the monitoring framework, Article 8(j), resource mobilization, capacity-building mechanisms, and others.
Article 8(j) states that each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate: Subject to its national legislation, respect, preserve, and maintain knowledge, innovations, and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and promote their wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations, and practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of such knowledge, innovations, and practices.
Indonesia is a country with unmatched levels of biodiversity, spanning 190 million hectares of land and 327 million hectares of ocean across more than 17,000 islands. Indonesian CSOs urge negotiators to address three major key issues vital to securing the future of biodiversity and the Indigenous and local communities within it.
Demonstrating civil society concern for biodiversity and the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, Indonesian CSOs issued a joint statement responding to the ongoing negotiations at COP16 CBD in Cali, Colombia (October 21 – November 1, 2024). Link to the CSO statement: Joint Statement Indonesia Civil Society Organization to COP 16 CBD.
