Indigenous Communities Papua Gain Land Rights to Protect Forests
Great news from Papua, Indonesia! A vast rainforest area of 206,641 hectares–nearly the size of the Dutch province of Limburg–has been officially recognized as land belonging to Indigenous communities. This marks a major step toward justice for these communities while strengthening environmental conservation efforts.
For centuries, Indigenous peoples in Papua have lived in harmony with nature, managing their forests sustainably. Studies show that forests under local community management tend to suffer less deforestation than those controlled by governments. By securing official land rights, these communities can better protect their environment from threats like illegal logging and land-grabbing for palm oil plantations.
Papua is home to more than half of Indonesia’s remaining primary forests, playing a crucial role in absorbing CO2 and regulating the global climate. It also hosts an extraordinary diversity of wildlife, including tree kangaroos, birds of paradise, and saltwater crocodiles. Safeguarding these forests is essential for both biodiversity and climate stability.
The community uses maps to negotiate boundaries based on objects or natural markers. It involves communities from 10 villages within the customary territory of Rumpun Pomar Sirau. © Amelius Mansawan, 2022 – WWF Indonesia.
With support from the Voices for Just Climate Action program, local communities have used participatory mapping to define and secure their land rights. This process combines traditional knowledge with modern tools like GPS and satellite imagery to create maps that serve as legal proof of ownership. These efforts help prevent conflicts, ensure long-term conservation, and empower Indigenous communities to take control of their own future.
This success in Papua is part of a larger initiative to protect Indigenous land rights across Indonesia. To date, 5.3 million hectares of land in Tanah Papua have been mapped, with the potential for further recognition of Indigenous governance.
By supporting Indigenous land rights, we are not only upholding justice but also ensuring the protection of some of the world’s most vital forests. Together, we can make a lasting impact for people, nature, and the climate.
The Climate Crisis that we are facing has no frontiers. We believe it is only possible to foster a just transition to low-carbon and climate-resilient futures with a new level of civil society leadership. This is what Voices for Just Climate Action stand for.
