The Government Of The Republic Of Indonesia Approves The Establishment Of A Permanent Community Agency For Indigenous Peoples

Illustration of indigenous peoples. (greeners.co)

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government as one of the countries that initially expressed its rejection, on the last day of the 16th Biodiversity Convention (COP16 CBD), in Cali, Colombia, took progressive steps to support the formation of the Body on Article 8j Subsidy.

Broadly speaking, Article 8j relates to respect, protection and recognition of traditional knowledge, innovation and practices by indigenous peoples in overcoming climate change and relevant to the principles of conservation and sustainable utilization of biodiversity.

"As has been repeated, Indonesia recognizes the contribution of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC) and recognizes IPLCs as part of the process of all documents built under CBD," said Associate Expert Policy Analyst Analyst, Directorate of Biodiversity Conservation of Species and Genetics, Ministry of Environment and Forestry Lu lu Agustiana in a statement received by Antara in Jakarta, Saturday (2/11).

He, who is one of the delegates of the Republic of Indonesia at CBD Colombia, said that the Indonesian delegation expressed a strong commitment to support recognition of indigenous peoples and uphold the spirit of compromise between CBD member countries as the reason for the change in attitude.

However, Lu Lu Lu added, to increase the status of recognition to a higher level, in this case related to Article 8j, Indonesia needs clarity on how the mechanism will be implemented. This clarity is the concern of the Indonesian Delegation during the negotiations at CBD.

"The next step is how this new agency, Body 8j Subsidy, can show good performance in accordance with the mandate that we set today fairly and openly," said Lu Lu'lu through a press release from the Indigenous Regulation Agency (BRWA).

The establishment of the Body Article 8j Subsidy aims to help provide suggestions, recommendations, and guidelines to carry out the world's agreed targets in the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF).

Head of the Kasmita Widodo Customary Registration Agency, Widodo, said that the Indonesian Government's support for the establishment of a permanent body for indigenous peoples and the local community needs to be aligned with the action plan and the Indonesian biodiversity strategy or IBSAP launched by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin in August 2024.

"We hope this will become a full recognition and protection of customary territory with all its biodiversity and local wisdom of indigenous peoples," he said.

Meanwhile, Greenpeace Indonesia Forest Campaigner Syahrul Fitra, who was present at the final COP-16 session, said that Indonesia was finally able to show its alignment with indigenous peoples in the global community, and carry out the constitutional mandate to continue to recognize and respect the rights of indigenous peoples.