Minister Of ATR/BPN Calls Campus Also Involved For Identification And Inventory Of Ulayat Land

Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY). (Theresia Agatha/VOI)

BANDUNG - Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning/Head of the National Land Agency (ATR/BPN) Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) said that his party involved universities in identifying and inventory customary land (adat land) throughout Indonesia.

AHY gave an example, his party is working with Andalas University in West Sumatra and Hasanuddin University in South Sulawesi to ensure that identification has been based on research methods, values and traditional principles and is responsive to the needs of the local community.

"Before ATR/BPN can issue customary land certificates, first of all, they must be identified. And we are working with campuses and universities in various regions. Then, we also invite local governments, provincial governments, local districts/cities to make sure that these indigenous peoples don't exist. Since when and what has been the case so far and so on," AHY said at the "International Meeting On Best Practices Of Ulayat Land Registration In Indonesia And Asean Countries" at The Trans Luxury Hotel Kota Bandung, West Java, Thursday, September 5.

After that, a measurement process will be carried out on the soil by taking into account the boundaries with the surrounding area.

"We also have to check the boundaries, don't let us just install the boundary markers, it turns out to be in someone else's area or an area that is not fully controlled. Here we have to be careful, but it doesn't mean we are prolonged. What is clear is that our target is that we will continue to control our progress. Hopefully this kind of activity will further build awareness," he said.

In addition, AHY gave an example that in the West Sumatra region, his party is approaching the Minangkabau Natural Customary Meeting Institute (LKAAM) or one of the highest customary authorities who agree to help raise awareness and socialize the importance of the customary land certification program.

"This has succeeded in encouraging traditional leaders to independently come to the local land office to register their customary land," said AHY.

On this occasion, he explained that the government wanted to provide legal certainty against customary land or customary community land throughout Indonesia.

"The state (will) provide guarantees, legal certainty, legality and legitimacy to indigenous peoples so that they are comfortable, calm and can work and live on their land by continuing to maintain their values and preserve nature," he said.

As of September 2024, the Ministry of ATR/BPN has issued 24 management rights certificates (HPL) for customary land covering nearly 850,000 hectares (ha) of land in West Sumatra, Papua, West Java, Bali and Jambi.

Meanwhile, through the PTSL program since 2017, the Ministry of ATR/BPN has registered 117 million plots of land from the target of 126 million. This figure increased significantly from 46 million plots of land in 2017.

"This year, we have set an ambitious target to certify an additional 10,000 ha in four provinces, namely West Java, East Java, North Kalimantan and South Sulawesi," he added.